UMNO should support the leadership of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, according to Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa.

He said Ismail had succeeded in resolving various very challenging issues not previously confronted by any other prime minister.

Annuar added that some party members belittling Ismail did not show good party spirit.

“Are we not shamed that our party is trying to weaken the prime minister, who is from our party with only 38 seats (in Parliament)?” he told a media conference last night.

Annuar said the party should support Ismail because he had to handle the Covid-19 pandemic, manage the impact of rising oil prices and unite the government and opposition through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

“These matters put Ismail, who is from Umno, in a situation which has never been experienced by any other prime minister.

“It is not appropriate to run down the prime minister from within your own party. This is a prime minister endorsed by Umno and who represents Umno,” he said following the statement of Johor Umno liaison committee deputy chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed, who said Ismail was the weakest prime minister because he could not make decisions or stamp his power. 

Annuar said even though everyone is free to express personal views, Nur Jazlan is handicapped in making the evaluation.

“He is not in the government so there are many things he is not aware of… as he is not close to the prime minister.

“There is much more he does not know, and if he has a motive, he is therefore influenced by his own political inclination.

“How is the prime minister going to represent his party, which has only 38 seats, besides battling Covid-19 and economic challenges.

“We should assist and be sympathetic to him, instead of making baseless allegations,” the Ketereh MP said. – Bernama, June 24, 2022.