Umno president should be made DPM, says expert

 

One of the two deputy prime minister posts set under the unity government’s upcoming cabinet should be held by the Umno president, an expert said. -NSTP file pic

KUALA LUMPUR: One of the two deputy prime minister posts set under the unity government's upcoming cabinet should be held by the Umno president, an expert said.

National Professors' Council fellow Dr Muhammad Asri Mohd Ali said this was to prevent dissension within a party that helped form the cabinet.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is currently BN chairman and Umno president.

"The person who will be the next deputy prime minister is important to me because if none of the top leaders (of the party he is from) is appointed to the position, it will create problems (starting) in the component party.

"For example, if the Umno president was not appointed to the position, as many people say it would his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan instead, I see that will cause instability in the party.

"And subsequently, it may create instability to the position of the prime minister," he said in an interview with Astro Awani.

Asri said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would understand such a sentiment.

"Anwar came from the same school of thought in Umno. He knows how to defuse this.

"Umno is about to hold its party polls. And if someone else (not the Umno president) is placed there as the deputy prime minister, there will be clashes in Umno."

Asri said promoting stability in creating the cabinet line-up should be of the utmost importance.

Earlier today, Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun backed BN deputy chairman Mohamad as deputy prime minister.

Anwar during a media conference yesterday, said there would be two deputy prime minister positions that would be filled by representatives from BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak. - NST