Photo: Ronnie Chin/The Star
IPOH: Umno leaders are not being "cast aside (dilanyak)" as claimed, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Umno secretary-general said the number for Umno ministers and deputies are based on the winning quota during the 15th General Election.
"After 25 years, our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim came to our (Umno) headquarters where he chaired the first meeting for the unity government.
"All parties also agreed to make Umno headquarters the management centre for the unity government. So I don't see how we are being 'cast aside'," he said in a press conference at the Perak Secretariat Building here on Thursday (Feb 9).
During an interview with a news portal recently, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob claimed Umno leaders were being "cast aside" and hero-worshipped leaders from other parties.
Earlier on Thursday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had described the former prime minister's comment as his personal opinion.
Ahmad Maslan said it was unreasonable to compare the number of Umno leaders in the unity government with the previous Cabinet.
"There are only 26 Umno MPs and the quota is given based on the winning number," he said.
He added it was unfair to compare it with the Cabinet during Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's and Ismail Sabri's administrations which were not formed after a general election.
Ahmad Maslan added that people were only focussing on the eighth motion at the Umno general assembly, which was the no-contest motion for Umno's president and deputy president posts.
"In the first seven motions, we mentioned unconditional support for the unity government until the end of the term, which is more important.
"Ismail Sabri should know and understand that," he said.
