CAUGHT between a rock and a hard place, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is expected to leave the plantation industries and commodities portfolio vacant until the next elections, said analysts.

“Ismail Sabri’s first task would be to avoid any conflict with Bersatu as he needs their support to hold elections this year against pressure from Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s faction,” said Universiti Malaya’s Prof Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi.

He said Ismail Sabri’s position is shaky as he needs the support from Perikatan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to remain as prime minister until the next elections.

And with Zahid’s group pushing for early elections this year, Ismail Sabri will need all the help he can get to avoid being forced to dissolve Parliament now.

“PBM (Parti Bangsa Malaysia) is still a small party with just three MPs, even after Zuraida Kamaruddin joins them. As such, it’s unlikely Ismail Sabri will placate PBM by retaining her after she quit Bersatu last week,” said Awang Azman.

He said Ismail Sabri may leave the portfolio vacant until the elections next year.

“Or even take up the portfolio as previous prime ministers have held double portfolios before.”

Among the prime ministers who have held two portfolios in the past include Dr Mahathir Mohamad who took over the education post after Dr Maszlee Malik resigned in 2019 and Najib Razak, who held the finance post.

During the Barisan Nasional era, Dr Mahathir had also held the finance post after Anwar Ibrahim was sacked in 1998.

Apart from Dr Mahathir and Najib, Anwar and his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim also held the finance and women, family and community development portfolios when they were deputy prime ministers.

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s (IIUM) Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar also believes that Ismail Sabri is unlikely to appoint anyone to fill Zuraida’s position.

“It’s a very tough decision as there are demands from both Bersatu and Umno,” said the political science lecturer.

And with Ismail Sabri unlikely to retain Zuraida after she quit the party last week, Tunku Mohar said the prime minister will most likely keep the seat empty until next elections.

“He can’t keep her as it will anger Bersatu and he can’t fill it with an Umno MP as it will also upset Perikatan. As such, the safest bet is to leave it empty till GE15,” said Tunku Mohar.

Zuraida, who quit PKR in 2020 to join Bersatu, announced last week that she will resign from Bersatu to join PBM.
https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/383254

The Ampang MP also plans to resign as minister. But Ismail Sabri told reporters on Wednesday that he will decide on her resignation after meeting her after she returns from an international assignment this week. – June 4, 2022.