PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has ruled out the need to appoint a deputy prime minister as he already has the backing of four senior ministers in the Cabinet.
“Let’s leave it (the appointment of a DPM). Today, as we know, I already have four senior ministers to assist me, which means it is like having four DPMs,” he said in an interview with reporters at Seri Perdana.
The four senior ministers in Ismail’s Cabinet are Azmin Ali and Radzi Jidin of Bersatu, Hishammuddin Hussein (Umno) and Fadillah Yusof (Gabungan Parti Sarawak).
“The benefits they get are nearly the same, they get outriders and so on, almost like a DPM. So far, I am not troubled (or) burdened by the lack of a DPM.”
Ismail has come under pressure to fill the post recently from Perikatan Nasional, which said the position was included in an agreement it made with Ismail before he became prime minister.
The agreement called for a DPM to be appointed from Bersatu, the coaliltion said in July.
However, Ismail said in the interview that the current Cabinet composition had been well received and he did not want the issue to escalate and affect relationships among Cabinet members.
“It is those outside the Cabinet that have a lot to say. Here, the matter has never been raised,” said Ismail.
A minister from Bersatu has also downplayed the need for a deputy prime minister. Special functions minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad told the Senate last week that Putrajaya believes the current Cabinet line-up was sufficient.
He said the appointment of ministers and their deputies was the sole prerogative of the prime minister. - FMT
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