PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) and Bersatu will not dare to withdraw their support for Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said.

The Umno Youth chief said this is because there are reports claiming that Gombak MP and Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali is said to have been agreed upon by Bersatu as the sole candidate for the post of deputy prime minister.

“It is impossible that Bersatu and PN will dare to withdraw their support and trigger GE15 (15th general election) just because of Azmin,” he said in a Facebook post today.

In a Malaysiakini report today, sources were quoted as saying that Azmin has been nominated as the deputy prime minister candidate.

Asyraf, however, questioned the need for the post to be filled now so close to the elections.

“What is the need for a deputy prime minister given that the cabinet consists of 70 ministers and deputy ministers, including four senior ministers?” he asked.

“What is the benefit of this post to the people at a time when the country’s finances are struggling and people are faced with a high cost of living?

“Did the people agree to further burden the country’s finances by fulfilling the demand of PN for the deputy prime minister’s post?”

Media reports linked talk of PN’s intention to withdraw support to Ismail’s failure to appoint a deputy prime minister from Bersatu, a condition stipulated in a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Ismail was to have met a PN delegation to discuss the alleged breaches of the MOU but the meeting was called off at the last minute.

The meeting was to have discussed PN’s unhappiness with the prime minister in the execution of the terms of an agreement of political cooperation between them, including on the appointment of a deputy prime minister from Bersatu.

Responding to talk that the PN will withdraw support, Ismail said Malaysia will have snap polls if PN quits the ruling coalition.

“If that (PN’s) support is withdrawn, then the elections must be held immediately,” he told reporters after launching the 2022 Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agro Tourism Exhibition in Serdang yesterday.

Ismail also said he was aware of talk that PN was planning to withdraw its support for the government.

“I am aware of this. We live in a democratic country, so anyone is free to say anything,” he said.

“What’s important is that we must be ready regardless of the situation.” – August 7, 2022.