PETALING JAYA: Top Umno leaders have yet to give their blessing for a move by some MPs and others for party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to take over as prime minister when Muhyiddin Yassin resigns, according to a party insider.
He told FMT that discussions have been continuing since late afternoon today to discuss the nomination of a candidate for the post.
“They are trying to garner support for Ismail to be the prime minister,” the insider said, “but it has not received the blessing of party bigwigs.”
He added that the proposal is also supported by Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin, who is home minister in Muhyiddin’s government. Hamzah’s name has been suggested as deputy prime minister in a new government headed by Ismail.
Ismail is among a group of 23 MPs from Umno who had previously declared support for Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional government, in which Ismail is currently the deputy prime minister, while 15 Umno MPs have retracted their support.
The Umno insider said that the move to push Ismail’s candidacy was viewed within the party leadership as one that sidelined the party’s wishes to unite and move forward.
Several Umno MPs are believed to have also said in chat groups that they would withdraw support for Muhyiddin and were disappointed that he had not discussed with them his offer on Friday of an olive branch to Pakatan Harapan.
Muhyiddin is expected to offer his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong tomorrow morning.
It is understood that PAS will support anyone from Umno except Ismail and Hishammuddin Hussein.
A PAS leader said if Muhyiddin resigns tomorrow, they will support anyone from Umno to form a government “but not Ismail or Hishammuddin.” - FMT
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