CARETAKER prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said matters on the Umno elections should not be discussed during the campaign period as full focus is required to ensure the victory of Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election (GE).

Ismail, who is also Umno vice-president, said ranks in the party would not matter if BN loses in the GE as Umno would still have sufficient time to hold party polls.

“Let us not talk about party polls, which would only lead to arguments among ourselves. Every party leader has his own followers, and clashes would only be detrimental to the party.

“We do not want such matters to distract our work to win the elections. This is important. Forget about party elections, about who is going to be the president, deputy president, vice-president, Supreme Council member, and so on.

“After GE15, we have six months to decide the party leadership. At that time, we could discuss (the matter),” he told a media conference after attending the “Sembang Santai” programme in Mengkarak in Bera today.

Ismail was commenting on a statement by caretaker health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who was reported by the media as believing that he needs to become Umno president if he is to continue leading the country’s administration after the GE.

Ismail also said he was not Umno president when he became the prime minister, and never used his premiership to intervene in party matters, including issues on party positions. 

He also denied there being a pact between him and Umno leaders, when asked about Khairy’s statement, which reportedly did not rule out the possibility of an alliance between Khairy, Ismail and Hishammuddin Hussein in future party polls. 

“There is no alliance. You can see because I went everywhere and never touched on party elections.

“Even in the past, before the postponement of party elections, the focus of my work was as prime minister. I did not abuse the position, even when it was proposed to postpone (the party polls), I stood up and agreed to it. 

“If I were looking after my own interests, I could have asked the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to reject Umno’s application (regarding the postponement of the election) so I could run against the president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi), but that did not happen,” he said. 

Ismail said the matter is in line with his stand that he puts the interests of the party above his own, besides not wanting a rift in the party if party elections are held before the GE. 

In July, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the ROS had approved an application related to the amendment of the party’s constitution so that elections in the party at all levels can be held no more than six months after a GE. – Bernama, November 16, 2022.