Muhyiddin doesn't discount Samsuri as future PM candidate

Muhyiddin doesn't discount Samsuri as future PM candidate


Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin did not discount that the coalition’s fielding Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar in Kemaman was a stepping stone to prepare the Terengganu menteri besar as a future prime minister candidate.

He said this was a strategic move by the coalition to highlight its leaders.

“It can’t be denied (Samsuri being positioned as a PM candidate), because there will be a time for PN to create history either before the 16th general election or after it, with hopes that we will form the government.

“So all these moves are strategic steps which can show to the rakyat we have many leaders who are intelligent, capable, with praiseworthy behaviour, and that there are moderates and professionals (among us),” he said during a press conference in Felda Kerteh 5 in Kemaman today.

He said this when asked to comment on speculation that PN was grooming Samsuri to become a prime minister candidate.

Kemaman was expected to be an easy contest for PN, which had in the six state elections bagged more than 60 percent of votes in the constituency at the state level.

The move to field Ahmad Samsuri - who is serving his second term as Terengganu menteri besar - thus came as a surprise.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar


The PAS vice-president is contesting in a straight fight against BN direct candidate - former chief of defence forces Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor.

The Kemaman by-election was called after an election court invalidated the 15th general election results in the Parliament seat after finding elements of corruption.

PAS did not appeal the decision.

Voting in Kemaman will take place on Dec 2.