THE offer to have three deputy prime ministers still stands, although it is not included in the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto for the November 19 general election, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, said if BN wins the polls and forms the new government, the three posts will definitely be created, each to represent the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, along with ministerial portfolios to be decided later.

“Of course, it will increase the power of Sabah and Sarawak representatives in the cabinet, not just because of the post of DPM but also the ministerial portfolios that they will hold,” he said after attending the briefing session with the staff involved in the Jalinan Rakyat programme at Bagan Datuk Umno Complex today.

“Those appointed as DPM are not only there to assist the prime minister but also to help the territories (peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak) that they represent.”

On October 23, Zahid was reported as saying that Sabah BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) could suggest to caretaker prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob for this suggestion be included in the BN and GPS manifesto for the general election.

Zahid also called on all BN candidates to observe the essence of the coalition’s manifesto launched yesterday.

“This is because if they are elected, they will be the ones who have to undertake and monitor the fulfilment of each plan contained in the manifesto,” he said.

The manifesto, themed Perancangan Amal dan Usaha (Planning of charity and efforts), features a fresh deal for the people and contains 99 practices and means in turning Malaysia into a fully developed nation. – Bernama, November 8, 2022.