Tok Mat not happy with talk of him as ‘next PM’

Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan fears that talk of him as a future prime minister would ruin his political career.

SEREMBAN: Barisan Nasional’s candidate for Rantau, Mohamad Hassan, says he is not interested in becoming the prime minister, saying such talk could ruin his political career.

The Umno acting president said he never wanted to hold the top post.

“I hope my friends and colleagues will stop such talk as it will be used for character assassination,” the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, better known as Tok Mat, told a press conference here.

Several BN leaders, including former MIC president S Subramaniam and Umno Supreme Council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman have described Mohamad as prime ministerial material.

Under the previous BN government’s tradition, an Umno president was also made the prime minister.

Mohamad was made the Umno acting president after Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – who is facing 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, money-laundering and abuse of power – went on leave.

Mohamad said he was not aware of his BN colleagues touting him as the next prime minister during campaign events.

“If I were there, I would have told them to stop such talk.

“It will only lead to unhealthy speculation and the knives will be out for me.” - FMT