Umno's decision to back its vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob as its prime minister candidate was by process of elimination, party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan claimed.

This came after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi withdrew his name for consideration.

“Zahid (above) decided to pull out from being nominated at the political bureau meeting, and also the supreme council meeting yesterday. He didn’t want to be nominated.

“The second name that came up was (Mohamad Hasan) but he doesn’t fulfil the criteria as he is only an assemblyperson. So, we chose Ismail Sabri," Ahmad Maslan was quoted as saying by The Vibes.

Ahmad Maslan is aligned to Zahid.

Ismail Sabri had mobilised efforts to gather support in a bid to become prime minister not long after Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin resigned from the top post.

It is believed that there was resistance from Zahid's camp to back Ismail Sabri - who had stuck by Muhyiddin in defiance of Umno's decision to withdraw support.

Ismail Sabri has a majority of Umno and BN MPs aligned to him.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob

It is understood that the situation changed in part after at least 11 parliamentarians aligned to Zahid - the magic number needed by Ismail Sabri - decided to back the Bera MP as premier. 

Meanwhile, Ahmad Maslan painted Ismail Sabri as a capable candidate.

"Ismail Sabri has the experience, he was a senior minister and the deputy prime minister. He is the most capable candidate," he said.

 

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