KUALA LUMPUR: There is no guarantee that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob can stay on as prime minister after the general election concludes despite being Umno’s choice as GE15 premier candidate, says Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
The Umno supreme council member and Pasir Salak MP gave an example of the recently concluded Johor state elections, where Barisan Nasional’s poster boy Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad was not appointed the mentri besar.
Instead, Machap state assemblyman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was appointed as Johor Mentri Besar.
“Look at the poster boy on Johor before this. Who was the poster boy? It was Hasni. What happened?
“We pray for the best. We don’t want to have bad thoughts,” he said when met on the sidelines of an Umno breaking of fast event held after a supreme council meeting at the World Trade Centre.
“In politics, a day after the election, some people may aspire to be the prime minister. This can happen.
“So, I cautioned during the meeting that there is no guarantee. But if there is a guarantee, never mind, as I’m a staunch supporter of Ismail Sabri from the beginning,” said Tajuddin.
Tajuddin also said anyone in politics is qualified to be prime minister, even himself.
“Just like me, I have ambitions too, but I didn’t make it as prime minister,” quipped Tajuddin as he chuckled.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan on Thursday (April 14) announced a unanimous decision by its supreme council on supporting Ismail Sabri as prime minister candidate in the coming 15th general election.
Also present during the event was Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan and Barisan advisory board chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak.