Zahid still qualified to become DPM

SHAH ALAM - Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is viewed as the most eligible person to hold the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) position for now.

This was due to Zahid being an experienced party leader and was responsible to ensure the unity government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was achievable with BN's involvement.

Even though the BN chairman had ongoing court cases, but that was not an obstacle for him to be appointed as DPM.

This was proven when 130 Umno Division Chiefs including the supreme council voiced their solidarity towards Zahid as the Umno president recently.

Umno Supreme council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii said the decision regarding the appointment of the DPM must be made by 'returning' to the party's hierarchy and decisions.

He said that based on the party hierarchy, Zahid was the candidate that must shoulder the position.

Zahid was previously urged to step down after BN's major loss in the 15th General Election (GE15).

BN only won 30 Parliamentary seats compared to the 79 seats won in GE14 thus recording its worst loss in the election.

Parti Pejuang Tanah Air chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad previously claimed there were efforts to restore the Umno president's image in order to make him the DPM.

Mahathir said in the system of law, a person is innocent until proven guilty and the parties involved would still say Zahid was eligible to become the DPM.

Umno Youth Exco Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin suggested that Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan should be named DPM for the unity government based on his credibility being received by the people and the party.

Previously, Anwar gave his assurance that two positions of DPM would be created under his Cabinet among the representatives of the components of the unity government.

He said the position of DPM was expected to be given to the other strongest bloc in the unity government which were BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

Anwar said it was a common practice in each government because the prime minister was from Pakatan Harapan (PH), usually the DPM (would be elected) from other strong component parties.