THE appointment of Umno president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister was not made based on political interests but in consideration of his position in the party hierarchy.

Party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the appointment of Zahid to the country’s second-highest office was also aimed at stabilising the unity government, which was formed after no party won a simple majority of 112 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.

“There has never been a cabinet that has not been criticised. How often do we see something that is perfect? There must be disagreements here and there.

“If we give it (the position) to someone other than the president (Zahid), that stability will be called into question. Firstly, the strength of Umno and secondly the unity government itself.

“That is why we want stability and the party hierarchy is the right thing to follow now,” he told reporters after attending a ceramah in Kampung Pianggu, Rompin yesterday.

Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, was among the 27 cabinet members who took their oath of office before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Istana Negara yesterday.

Besides that, Zahid was also named rural and regional development minister.

Asked whether the party accepted the cabinet’s decision, Ahmad said there was positive feedback from the party’s rank and file.

“We are aware that we have only 30 seats and six representatives (as ministers), even though we demanded more. We are waiting for the list of deputy ministers,” he said. – Bernama, December 4, 2022.