Three DPMs if BN wins GE15? We'll see, says Ismail Sabri

Caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob played coy when faced with questions on BN’s proposal to appoint three deputy prime ministers if the coalition wins the upcoming 15th general election (GE15).

Ismail Sabri said the proposal must first be part of BN’s manifesto before it can be implemented after the alliance’s victory post-GE15.

“We don’t know yet, let us win the general election first.

“If it’s part of the manifesto, of course, it will be enforced.

“Let’s wait until we win first, then we will discuss,” he told reporters after officiating the closing ceremony of the Expression Programme @ Finas at Merdeka Studio Complex, National Film Development Corporation Malaysia today.

The Bera MP added that BN has not named any potential candidates for the roles yet.

“For sure, we will then get the Sabah and Sarawak governments to suggest some names and then we will discuss the matter,” he said when asked if the deputy prime minister candidates will come from East Malaysia.

Yesterday, BN chief Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed that the coalition appoint three deputy prime ministers if it wins the national polls in November.

Zahid said the proposal is for there to be a deputy prime minister from Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia - appointed from BN and Sarawak’s GPS.

Following this, Pakatan Harapan announced it was maintaining its proposal to appoint two deputy prime ministers, the first representing both Sabah and Sarawak and the second from the peninsula.

Opposition chief Anwar Ibrahim said this pledge dated back to the Pakatan Rakyat days.

PAS slams ‘instant noodle’ offers

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man has lambasted Harapan and BN for making promises on creating those roles.

He likened it to “instant noodle” offers to win over Sabah and Sarawak.

Tuan Ibrahim was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that those were weak attempts to garner votes from balloters in those states.

In response, Ismail Sabri dismissed the Islamist party’s criticism.

“That’s their (PAS) opinion and we have our own,” he said.

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Harapan sticks with two-DPM proposal from Pakatan days - Anwar

Zahid moots three DPMs if BN wins GE15