HISHAMMUDDIN Hussein has denied rumours linking him to the deputy prime minister’s position, amid talk he was among the top three in Umno running for the portfolio.

“I wish to say that I have not put in any effort in working towards becoming the deputy prime minister.

“In fact, I want to thank Umno for supporting me to become one of the ministers in the government today,” said the foreign minister in a Facebook post.

He said that Umno and the government should focus on next week’s Parliament sitting, Budget 2021 and the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It should not focus on positions. This is in line with the Umno president and Supreme Council’s decision this week,” said the former party vice-president.

The New Straits Times today reported Hishammuddin and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan were contenders for the position. In the case of Mohamad, lacking a seat in Parliament, he would have to be appointed to the Senate to qualify for office. Senior Minister Fadillah Yusof of Gabungan Parti Sarawak is also speculated to be among the candidates under consideration.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin chose to dispense with a deputy when selecting his cabinet in March, appointing four senior ministers instead to be in charge of four key portfolios.

The four senior cabinet members are Ismail Sabri Yaakob (defence), Fadillah (works), Mohamed Azmin Ali (international trade and industry) and Mohd Radzi Jidin (education).

Muhyiddin is believed to be contemplating appointing an Umno MP to become the deputy prime minister to pacify the party after it threatened to pull out of the Perikatan Nasional government.

Last year, Hishammuddin was called to the disciplinary board after reports said that he had played a role in getting Umno MPs to join Bersatu, which was then led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.  

Earlier today in Putrajaya, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa said it is the prime minister’s prerogative to appoint a deputy or maintain the current system of four senior ministers in his cabinet.

“Let’s relax and calm down and cease politicking. The creation of the deputy prime minister’s post is the prerogative of the person who has been sworn in as prime minister,” Annuar said at a press conference today in Putrajaya.

“Give the PM space (to decide) without any pressure,” the Barisan Nasional secretary-general said. – October 29, 2020.