'Not everyone has the chance to be PM' says Ismail Sabri on his 15-month stint

SHAH ALAM - Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who served as the ninth prime minister, is well-known for many things and among them is being the shortest serving prime minister in Malaysian history.

The man behind “Keluarga Malaysia” concept only served for 15 months (August 2021 - November 2022) as the premier.

Despite the short stint, Ismail Sabri said he accomplished what was entrusted to him at that time.

He also highlighted that he does not care when people try to make a big deal about being the shortest prime minister in power but instead focused on what had to do for the country during the times of need.

"Not everybody has the chance to become a prime minister. Many people desperately wanted to become one but I had the chance even in shortest time.

"Thank you to God for giving me something I never dreamt of (becoming a prime minister)," he told Sinar Daily.

The Bera MP further said that time did not define him and that the only thing that matters was the success and satisfaction in providing the to the people’s needs.

“Whether it’s short or long period of time does not matter, for me it should be meaningful even if the time was short.

"What was entrusted to me was done right, which is much better than having more time and failing to produce what people need," he said.

Ismail Sabri was a lawyer prior to his jump into politics.

He is also the first ever former Opposition Leader who is not the highest rank in a political party of coalition after Barisan Nasional lost in the 14th General Election and the only Prime Minister without a deputy prime minister.

Ismail Sabri took office as prime minister on Aug 21, 2021, as a result of the ongoing political crisis from 2020 to 2021 due to the Sheraton Move, following the resignation of his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Prior to that, he was appointed as deputy prime minister by Muhyiddin in June 2021 for 40-days.