PAS has denied it has struck a deal with Perikatan Nasional (PN) over the appointment of a deputy prime minister, according to party president Abdul Hadi Awang.

In responding to previous comments by Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, the Islamist party president said the party has had a discussion on the matter but no decision was made.

“We still maintain our earlier position that there would be no deputy prime minister when the government was formed.

“There were discussions but there was no decision,” he told reporters in Marang, Terengganu, today.

The Marang MP said the party was of the view the appointment had to be made as the general election would be held at any time.

Last Saturday, Muhyiddin had said he met Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss cabinet posts, including that of deputy prime minister.

The PN chairman said their discussion was based on “PN’s agreement with the prime minister” on such appointments, and also appointments to government-linked companies (GLCs).

“We discussed government appointments, not just ministerial vacancies but also new appointments as stated in PN’s agreement with the prime minister.

“We are not asking for more than that, just new appointments to cabinet, a deputy prime minister, and appointments to GLCs and statutory bodies,” Muhyiddin told reporters in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, where he launched PN Kelantan.

He had met Ismail to discuss Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin’s resignation in May, after she quit Bersatu for Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Muhyiddin has said the post should be given to another Bersatu representative and had been wanting to meet Ismail to firm this up.

When Ismail, Umno vice president, replaced Muhyiddin as prime minister in August last year, he retained all the Bersatu ministers.

Ismail now heads a government that comprises Barisan Nasional, PN and Sabah and Sarawak parties.

He is under pressure from Umno to hold an early general election, which the party believes can win and regain power outright. – July 8, 2022.