MUHYIDDIN Yassin should not impose any conditions on his offer of the deputy prime minister’s post to Umno, a Selangor party leader said, following Umno’s promise to support the prime minister.

Barisan Nasional Selangor information chief Isham Jalil, from Umno, said the condition that other leaders could be considered for deputy prime minister except party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was insincere.

“It is better if the offer from the prime minister, who is Bersatu president, comes without conditions.

“Then it will look more sincere and will give all levels within Umno from the grassroots to the leadership to decide and reach a consensus on the offer,” Isham said in a Facebook post.

He was responding to a news report by Chinese daily Sin Chew, which cited one source who said that Muhyiddin is open to appointing an Umno leader as deputy prime minister. However, while Umno could name its candidate, Muhyiddin will not accept Zahid, who is currently facing trial on multiple corruption charges.

As yet, there is no confirmation or denial from the prime minister’s circle nor from Bersatu about the report.

The purported offer follows Umno’s decision to continue supporting Muhyiddin as prime minister and his Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong rejected his bid to impose a state of emergency.

In its statement on supporting Muhyiddin, Umno, which did not agree with the emergency proposal, said it will support the PN government for the sake of political unity to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and address the weak economy. But it also hinted that it will make more demands by calling for a national reconciliation between parties under PN, and for greater respect and consensus between the parties with Umno.

Isham, who added that his post is his personal view and does not represent the party, said Umno must weigh the implications of Muhyiddin’s condition that other Umno leaders except for Zahid can be a deputy prime minister.

“It will cause internal divisions within Umno when the president is sidelined like this by an outsider, and by Bersatu, especially.

“It will also strengthen Muhyiddin’s and Bersatu’s position in the government, and it will have implications for Umno and BN in the 15th general election.”

Umno’s unhappiness with Muhyiddin and Bersatu have increased in recent months since forming the PN government in March. Though the larger party and with more seats in Parliament, Umno has felt sidelined and forced to give in to Bersatu with regards to cabinet posts, seat allocations in the Sabah elections last month, and the candidate for Sabah chief minister. – October 28, 2020.