PETALING JAYA: A former federal minister said today that it would be inappropriate for Malaysia’s next prime minister to be chosen based on statutory declarations (SDs), amid reports that such documents were being collected.
Salleh Said Keruak said the supremacy of the Federal Constitution, which gives the Yang di-Pertuan Agong the power to appoint the prime minister, should be embraced, especially when the country is dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is inappropriate for us to look for a prime minister with an SD,” Salleh said. “We should just respect the decision of the King and move on, to focus our efforts on the national recovery.”
The comments by Salleh, a former communications and multimedia minister, come amid speculation about the resignation of prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and moves to forward the candidacy of Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is deputy prime minister in the current government.
Salleh made his comments in response to an assertion by political analyst James Chin in the Borneo Post that it was the King who had the prerogative to choose a new prime minister because Parliament could not be recalled at this time.
Chin also contended that the new prime minister would have to go through a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat when it meets on Sept 6.
Earlier this evening, Utusan Malaysia reported that Ismail and Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, who is home minister, were seen meeting at the Royal Chulan Hotel where SDs backing the proposed new government were being collected.
The Star reported that senior Umno member Nazri Aziz had said he had signed a declaration backing Ismail as the next prime minister. - FMT
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