Most Umno divisions support Ismail Sabri as PM after GE15

 

Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said the motion was also in line with the Supreme Council’s decision to name Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the candidate for prime minister if BN wins GE15. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: A vast majority of Umno divisions have called for Ismail Sabri Yaakob to remain as prime minister should Barisan Nasional (BN) win the next general election (GE15).

According to Bernama, some 132 Umno divisions, of the 191 which held meetings over the weekend, approved a motion to support Ismail as prime minister.

Yesterday, Umno vice-president Mahdzir Khalid said the support given to Ismail by the Umno divisions was their own initiative and not based on any instruction to do so.

Another party vice-president, Khaled Nordin, said the motion was also in line with the Umno Supreme Council’s decision on April 14 to name Ismail as BN’s “poster boy” and prime minister-designate in facing GE15.

“Like what our president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) said before, it has already been decided,” he told Bernama.

Zahid was also reported to have said yesterday that BN’s stand on Ismail as its “poster boy” and prime ministerial candidate was not going to change now that Parliament has been dissolved and the general election is taking place this year.

Among the divisions were Machang and Ketereh in Kelantan; Tenggara, Pontian, Parit Sulong and Tebrau (Johor); Alor Gajah (Melaka); Tampin and Jelebu (Negeri Sembilan); Padang Terap (Kedah); Arau (Perlis); Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu); and Libaran (Sabah).

Meanwhile, all 13 divisions in Penang supported the motion, according to state Umno liaison chairman Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Bernama reported. - FMT