Fears over confidence vote may swing DPM post to Azmin

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu and Umno leaders now fear that Azmin Ali may not back Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob during a motion of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat if he is not appointed the country’s number two.

That is why, a source said, the former senior minister is likely to be given the post of deputy prime minister.

He said Azmin was backed by 12 MPs, including 10 from PKR who had crossed over during the Sheraton Move in February 2020.

The source said former home minister Hamzah Zainudin was first slated for the post but yesterday there was a change in plans and it now looks as if Azmin will become deputy prime minister.

“If Azmin does not get his way, he and his gang will most probably become independent candidates,” he claimed.

The source said many in Umno felt that Hamzah, being a former Umno MP, was more suitable for the job.

Earlier, a Bersatu source told FMT that Azmin was the frontrunner for the deputy prime minister’s post.

The source said Azmin had more support than Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah because he had brought 10 MPs with him into the party and had the support of two independents.

On Aug 18, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, in a statement, had said the MP appointed as prime minister must undergo a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat.

PKR MPs who had crossed over to Bersatu are Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Kamarudin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).

The independent MPs backing Azmin are Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar and Julau MP Larry Sng.

FMT