Ismail Sabri agreed to number of ministers from Bersatu before becoming PM, says Hamzah

IPOH: An agreement was made over the number of Cabinet appointments from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia with both the current and former prime ministers, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin.

The Bersatu secretary-general said the agreement was made with both Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He was responding to a question on finding a replacement for Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin as Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister.

ALSO READ: Zuraida quits Bersatu to join PBM

Zuraida quit Bersatu on Thursday (May 26) and also stated that she wished to discuss her resignation as Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister with Ismail Sabri.

The point of contention is where her replacement will come from, with some stating that the prerogative to make the appointment lies with the Prime Minister while others say that the individual should be from Bersatu.

"This pact was made before the cooperation between political parties and before the leadership was handed over to Ismail Sabri.

"So in the event someone from Bersatu who is in the Cabinet decides to leave, the replacement must come from the same party.

"The party's president (Muhyiddin) is firm in meeting the Prime Minister to present a name to represent Bersatu in the Cabinet," he told a press conference after attending PAS' Hari Raya open house at the Stadium Indera Mulia here on Saturday (May 28).

ALSO READ: Zuraida sets off fire storm with Bersatu resignation

Ismail Sabri had said Zuraida, the Ampang MP, could still attend the Cabinet meeting on June 1 as she had not tendered her resignation to him yet.

Hamzah added that the government of the day was not from a single party, and the fact remains that there was an agreement made before the current prime minister took over.

At the same event, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said that it is up to Zuraida to join whatever party she wants to.

He said since the anti-party hopping law was still not in place, she can join any other party if conditions are met.

"This is a democratic country. On her replacement, the Prime Minister will make the decision after discussing it with Perikatan Nasional.

"So let's just wait and not make any assumptions," he said.