PETALING JAYA: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been criticised as “insensitive” by several Umno leaders for raising the issue of positions, including that of a deputy prime minister, with the Prime Minister at a time when the people are grappling with rising cost of living.
Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii said that at a time when the rakyat were constantly calling for a salary cut of ministers and deputy ministers to help address the high cost of living, Muhyiddin seemed indifferent to the situation on the ground.
His comments came following reports of Muhyiddin – who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president and former prime minister – saying at a Perikatan event in Kelantan on Saturday that he had met with Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss several important matters and Cabinet appointments, including that of the deputy prime minister’s post.
Mohd Razlan said that such appointments would bring about additional expenditure to the government and not be beneficial to the rakyat.
“Since we are close to the general election, I do not think such appointments can bring any added value in terms of policy or direct benefits to Malaysians,” he added.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki echoed Mohd Razlan’s sentiment, saying that Muhyiddin’s proposal would not sit well with the people who were having a hard time facing high inflation.
“This is not the right time to demand for positions. The current number of Cabinet members and deputy ministers is already among the highest in the country’s history, and it does not include high-ranking appointments that are equal to the status of a minister demanded by various parties that form the current government,” he said.
Meanwhile, Selangor Bersatu chairman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari said it was only appropriate for the ministerial post to be returned to the party following Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s exit from the party.
“We have discussed it at the supreme council level and our party president has already submitted a few proposed names to the Prime Minister. The quota belongs to Bersatu,” he said.
In May, Zuraida announced her departure from Bersatu to join the new Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
Abdul Rashid said the party would much rather focus on aiding the country’s economic recovery than to discuss the issue of the posts publicly.
“But if a leader resigns from our party, morally the leader needs to relinquish her Cabinet position too,” said the Bersatu supreme council member.
Johor Bersatu leader Badrul Hisham Shahrin said the current government was formed based on the understanding and agreement made by various parties, including Bersatu.
“There are many leaders from our ranks who are qualified for Zuraida’s post,” he added.
