Loke: DPM’s appointment prerogative of PM solely

KUALA LUMPUR: The appointment of Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as Deputy Prime Minister is the prerogative of the Prime Minister, says DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

Stating that he respected the decision, Loke said: “The unity government involves Barisan Nasional. It is not about Ahmad Zahid or any particularly individual.”

He said the Cabinet’s agenda was focused on the rakyat and the country, instead of discussing “personal court cases”.

“The unity government involves a coalition. I think everyone in the DAP understood that,” he added.

Asked whether Barisan had “threatened” to pull out of the unity government if Ahmad Zahid was not appointed to the Cabinet, Loke dismissed this. He said they had been working quite well so far and there is no such thing as threatening each other.

“We don’t want to start off so negatively by threatening each other. No threats were made,” he said.

Loke said the unity government consisted of four coalitions namely Pakatan Harapan, Barisan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and other parties.

He said there was a need to understand the context of forming a unity government.

“There is a principle that must be followed; who will represent the coalition, for instance. We need to have an understanding of this principle. If we don’t respect it, then this coalition will not be successfully formed,” he said.

Loke added that DAP gave its unconditional support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become Prime Minister, including not demanding for any particular number of Cabinet positions.