Nur Jazlan affirms Ismail is BN's PM candidate - if it wins enough seats

GE15 | The BN's Pulai candidate Nur Jazlan Mohamed has reaffirmed the coalition's move to retain Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister when it returns to power after the 15th general election - though this is subject to the number of seats BN wins.

Met during a meet-the-voters session hosted by Johor's Youth Council last night, Nur Jazlan expressed confidence BN will emerge as the largest coalition in any post-election negotiations that could influence the final choice for the prime minister.

"Truthfully, it depends on the coalition that is formed after the elections. Right?

"People are talking about whether we win 60 seats, 70 seats or 80 seats.

"If we win a higher number of seats, Ismail Sabri will be confirmed as our prime minister," Nur Jazlan added.

However, he said, with a fewer number of seats, the prime minister's choice would depend on negotiations with any new partners accepted by BN.

Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, in his campaign trail for the coalition's candidates, including in Johor Bahru earlier yesterday, had warned that voting for BN would see the rise of Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as prime minister.

Muhyiddin also alleged that there were attempts by Zahid to seek the premiership in order to clear himself of his corruption charges, contrary to PN's promise of a clean government.

"That statement (vote BN, get Zahid as PM) is on the surface wrong. Because he (Ismail Sabri) is our prime minister.

"But what if the results don't turn out in a favourable way to us?" said Nur Jazlan, who stressed that BN would remain the biggest party in any coalition.

Asked whether he foresees a situation where no single coalition wins enough seats to form the government, therefore resulting in a hung Parliament, Nur Jazlan said the matter would only arise when no parties can talk to one another.

"But I'm confident BN can win a substantial number of seats so that it can talk to other partners to get the 112 seats (to form the federal government).

"What form of coalition, I’m not sure. But BN will be the party with the most number of seats," Nur Jazlan added.

Last night, caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri said even if BN does not win an outright majority in the forthcoming general election, it hopes to do well enough to be in a dominant position in any future coalition government.

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