Ismail Sabri: Dr M’s plug for Shafie a ploy to keep Warisan afloat
(NST) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s move to nominate Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal as the next prime minister is merely a ploy to stop more Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) leaders from jumping ship.
Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob described Dr Mahathir’s endorsement of Shafie as a ruse which no one, including Warisan leaders, should fall for.
“(Dr Mahathir’s) move to back Shafie is a strategy to prevent Warisan leaders (assemblymen) from leaving the party. Recently, two Upko assemblymen quit the Warisan-led state government and I was informed that many others are expected to follow suit…. if more assemblymen quit, the Sabah government will collapse.
“So when Dr Mahathir announced that he endorses Shafie as the next prime minister, he hopes that Warisan leaders will have a change of heart (about quitting the party) and stay put to defend Shafie as the Chief Minister and go on to become the prime minister,” he said after meeting villagers at Kampung Dusun Orang Asli settlement here, today.
The Senior Defence Minister said Dr Mahathir’s announcement has to be regarded in context, and one should not be easily convinced by looking at it from only one angle.
“Do not look at the endorsement (for Shafie) merely at the surface (level), as there are other (underlying) reasons as well. This is his trick to prevent Warisan leaders and supporters from leaving.
“So I hope Warisan, Upko (United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation) and other party members aligned with the ruling state government, who plan to quit the party, will go ahead… as it is unlikely that what Dr Mahathir mentioned will transpire,” he said.
Ismail Sabri was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s pledge to endorse Shafie as Pakatan Harapan Plus’ prime ministerial candidate in the next general election or in the event of snap polls.
Dr Mahathir said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was nominated to be Deputy Prime Minister 1, while former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir will be made Deputy Prime Minister 2.
