MALAYSIA may have a deputy prime minister again under the current administration helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

This is according to an unnamed source cited by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia who reported that Ismail Sabri had met with his predecessor and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday to discuss this matter. 

“Nothing’s been decided yet, it may be next week after the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. By right Ismail Sabri should have met Muhyiddin today [yesterday] to discuss this matter in particular the minister and deputy ministers in Bersatu,” the source was reported as saying by Utusan. 

According to the UMNO-linked newspaper, there are three nominees for the deputy prime minister post, all of whom are from Bersatu: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali. 

“However, Muhyiddin is leaning more towards Azmin. When Muhyiddin was prime minister he trusted Azmin to take over as prime minister when he was not around,” the source was quoted saying by the Malay daily. 

The source also said Ahmad Faizal’s chances to become deputy prime minister for Bersatu is still in early negotiation stages. 

“Faizal Azumu’s position is still being negotiated because he is the deputy president for Bersatu, meaning he is the second most powerful man in Bersatu after Muhyiddin in the current Cabinet,” the source told Utusan. 

The decision to do away with the appointment of a deputy prime minister first came about when Muhyiddin took office and became the eighth prime minister in February 2020. 

It was not until July last year that Muhyiddin appointed Ismail Sabri to be his deputy. Subsequently, he stepped down from office, making way for the UMNO vice-president. 

Ismail Sabri continued the move when he became prime minister and instead appointed four senior ministers to his Cabinet, namely Azmin, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein from UMNO, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof from Sarawak-based Parti Pesaka Bumiputera and Education Minister Datuk Radzi Jidin from Bersatu. – Jan 4, 2022