Efforts underway to push Ismail Sabri as PN's new PM candidate

Efforts underway to push Ismail Sabri as PN's new PM candidate

Written declarations are being gathered among Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs to back Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob as its new prime ministerial candidate.

Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz confirmed that he was among the MPs who have signed a document in support of the Bera lawmaker to take over the premiership.

"We will wait and see, I have already signed the statutory declaration (SD) for Ismail Sabri (above).

"I will support whatever is decided by Ismail Sabri for us MPs to make the next move," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had informed his coalition partners and party leaders that he plans to resign tomorrow when he meets with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.



Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz

Once Muhyiddin resigns, the ruler is expected to seek out a new prime ministerial candidate who he believes commands majority support.

Muhyiddin lost his majority after 15 out of 38 Umno MPs led by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi withdrew support for the prime minister.

The Pagoh MP retained the support of 100 parliamentarians, which is 11 short of a majority. There are presently 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat and two vacant seats.

His last-ditch effort to form a confidence and supply agreement with the opposition fell flat.

Ismail Sabri now serves as the deputy prime minister in Muhyiddin's cabinet.

Zahid faction told to return to PN's fold

The choice of Ismail Sabri as the prime ministerial candidate is expected to put pressure on Zahid.

The move neutralises Zahid's argument that Umno should take over the leadership of the government while at the same time prevents him from installing a prime ministerial candidate from his own faction.

Ismail Sabri will need 11 out of the 15 Umno MPs who withdrew support for Muhyiddin to back him in order to gain a majority, albeit a fragile one.

This is based on the assumption that all existing government MPs who backed Muhyiddin will transfer their support to Ismail Sabri.

Already, MPs aligned to Ismail Sabri are pushing this narrative, urging the 15 Umno lawmakers to return to PN's fold with Ismail Sabri at the helm.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (centre) and other party members

Nazri said that Zahid's faction has "no reason not to support" Ismail Sabri's candidacy.

"Now that Muhyiddin is gone - he is going away, there's no reason why we should split because everybody supports the PN government," he added.

Nazri said he signed his written support for Ismail Sabri after being approached by the Umno vice-president but is unsure how many MPs have declared support for the deputy prime minister to take the top spot.