SHAH ALAM - The prime minister candidacy of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has never been discussed by the top leaders of the party, say Umno supreme member councils.
Khaidhirah Abu Zahar, the Melaka deputy speaker said Umno’s upper echelons have never discussed the matter since their choice has always been Ismail Sabri.
"There is no such thing as Zahid Hamidi or Tok Mat being prime minister candidate if BN wins and this has not been discussed in any supreme council meeting,” she said.
She also said the motion for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to be the 10th Prime Minister if BN wins the 15th general election is nothing unusual.
This is in response to the concerns of why the motion exists when Ismail Sabri is considered the poster boy of the political party.
"Any motion during the Umno division meeting is normal.
"It simply means the division is amplifying the grassroots’ voice and turning it into a proper motion during the meeting and to put it on record (minute meeting),” she told Sinar Daily.
Asked if Pontian Umno is in a different camp following their declaration of support to Ismail Sabri, she said there is no such thing as a ‘camp’ in the party.
"Any announcement by Umno division is entirely their own.
"And I believe the leaders will listen to each one accordingly. That's why we have the meetings in the first place,” she added.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Mohd Rafii is of the same view as he said they have already made the decision during the general assembly that Ismail Sabri will be the 10th prime minister if Barisan Nasional wins in the GE15.
He said rumours that Zahid or someone else will be appointed as the next prime minister was simply attempts from certain parties to break Umno from within.
"There is no possibility of Zahid or Tok Mat to be the next prime minister and they are just saying this to make Ismail sabri and the party president to be at loggerheads. But from what we have seen, Alhamdulillah, the prime minister follows what the party decides and vice versa.
‘These people who are trying to break us apart are from Bersatu.
"When people see that Umno is strong, they will try to break us. There are no issues about any camp or whatsoever,” he said.
On Oct 15, Pontian Umno declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the 10th prime minister if Barisan Nasional wins GE15.