BARISAN Nasional (BN) chairman Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reiterated that Ismail Sabri Yaakob will be retained as prime minister if the coalition wins the 15h general election.

He said even though Ismail did not hold the top post in the party, it should not be an issue.

“This is because the power to appoint a prime minister doesn’t lie in the hands of the political party, but is indeed the discretionary power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who can choose a candidate he deems commands the majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.”

The incumbent Bagan Datuk MP said this in an interview at his residence in Kampung Sungai Nipah Darat today.

He said this in response to the allegation that one vote for BN is equivalent to one vote for him to become prime minister, a claim being bandied about by the opposition in their campaign.

Zahid said the opposition will use any issue that could ensure victory for them.

“What’s important is that BN needs to reach out and gain the support of the people so that it will have sufficient seats to form a government. That’s our priority,” he said.

Zahid was previously reported as saying that Ismail will remain as BN’s “poster boy” and prime minister candidate in the general election and that the coalition’s stance on the matter will not change if it wins the election. – Bernama, November 7, 2022.