What the vacant DPM’s post says about PM Ismail Sabri

What the vacant DPM’s post says about PM Ismail Sabri




RECENTLY, it was revealed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had signed an agreement with his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over the appointment of a Deputy Prime Minister from Bersatu, of which the latter is president.

That the agreement exists is no longer in dispute. This was confirmed by UMNO leader Tan Sri Annuar Musa himself who is a party to the agreement as well as PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan who drafted the document.

The question is why is it that almost one year after Ismail Sabri has become the country’s ninth PM, the DPM’s post is still vacant?

Not only that, the current Parliament is set to run its course soon and in fact elections are said to be scheduled for year-end right after the tabling of Budget 2023.

This is not a matter of why do we need a DPM when there are already four Senior Ministers? Or whether it should be from Bersatu or UMNO or which individual is more suitable?

At the heart of this issue is the PM’s credibility. If he has agreed to appoint someone from Bersatu as the DPM – more so in writing – then shouldn’t he fulfil the pledge?

If he can renege on a promise to his predecessor who had backed his appointment as the PM, then how can we hold Ismail Sabri to his words as ordinary citizens?

If he is willing to renege on his words due to political expediency, then this PM who has a penchant for exorbitantly-priced designer clothing, cannot be trusted at all. Because it is very clear that he speaks with a forked tongue.

If Ismail Sabri has any shred of integrity left in him, he should immediately keep to his words of appointing a DPM and be a good practising Muslim by not speaking in forked tongue. – July 26, 2022



Muhammmad Saufi Sulaiman

Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur