Azmin didn’t threaten to withdraw support over DPM post, says aide

 

An aide to Gombak MP Azmin Ali has denied reports claiming that Azmin had threatened to withdraw support for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob if the latter did not appoint Azmin to be his deputy.

Azmin’s political secretary Muhammad Hilman Idham said the reports by Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today were “absolutely false, malicious, and irresponsible”.

“The reports are certainly aimed to threaten the growing stability and unity within Perikatan Nasional in support of Ismail Sabri’s leadership as prime minister.

“It is regrettable that the two media outlets did not verify the truth of their sources to ensure accurate and responsible reporting,” he said in a statement today.

For the record, Malaysiakini did in fact contact several Bersatu politicians aligned with Azmin - including Hilman - before the report was published earlier today.

In the report, sources in both Umno and Bersatu had told Malaysiakini that Azmin is likely to clinch the deputy prime minister post.

However, two sources on opposite Umno factions also claimed Azmin had threatened to withdraw support from the fragile Ismail Sabri government if he was not given the post.

Malaysiakini had also quoted Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin denying any threats were made.

Azmin was one of three Bersatu leaders said to be in the running to be Ismail Sabri’s deputy.

The other two are Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin, and supreme council member Redzuan Mohd Yusof.

Sarawak’s GPS is also lobbying for there to be a second deputy prime minister post to be filled by one of its MPs. - Mkini