Tok Mat worthy candidate for DPM post, says Umno Youth leader

KUALA LUMPUR: With the deputy prime minister's post up for grabs, an Umno Youth leader believes Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (pic) is a worthy candidate.

Umno Youth exco member Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin said the Umno deputy president better known as Tok Mat, was a candidate eligible for the post as he was seen as having the credibility needed and was well received by the people within Umno as well.

Muhamad Muqharabbin said Mohamad's experience serving Negri Sembilan as mentri besar for three terms puts him above compared to other Barisan Nasional members of Parliament.

"I am confident that the people can accept Tok Mat and that he can help Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in leading a unity government and dealing with the recession that is expected to occur next year.

"The political challenges are now different and the political dynamics in the 15th General Election (GE15) were extraordinary.

"This good and solid partnership can help maintain the country's political stability for the next few years," a news portal reported him as saying in a statement on Saturday (Nov 26).

It was reported that Anwar said the position of deputy prime minister was expected to be given to the other strongest party in the unity government.

Anwar explained that it was a common practice in every government.

Meanwhile, Muhamad Muqharabbin hoped that Anwar could raise young leaders in steering the country so that no one was left behind.

"Among the leaders who should be given space within the Prime Minister's unity government under Pakatan Harapan are Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil, former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar and former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan as well as several other young leaders.

"I only hope that this unity government can bring changes to the country towards sustainable progress and restore investors' confidence in Malaysia.

"I hope that through the leadership of the government this time, Anwar can create harmony among all races in the various parties.

"Racist statements should not be made to prevent hurting others' sentiments," he said.