GE15: “It’s down to either Zahid or Anwar,” says Gobind

“Yesterday (Nov 2), we have seen the list of BN candidates. It’s very clear who they are pushing to be the prime minister candidate if they win. We all know. 

(Focus Malaysia) – Come Nov 19 on the day of the 15th General Election (GE15), voters will ultimately have to choose between two candidates to become the country’s next prime minister: Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo warned that if PH is not given the mandate to form the next federal government, Zahid will, in all likelihood, be the person to take Putrajaya.

“It is down to these two leaders. The coming polls will be an election to pick one prime minister, and we have two choices – Anwar and Zahid,” he said during a Selangor PH event to introduce its GE15 candidates last night.

“Yesterday (Nov 2), we have seen the list of BN candidates. It’s very clear who they are pushing to be the prime minister candidate if they win. We all know. That is why we must come out to vote this time.

“Your votes will determine who becomes the prime minister and lead the country for the next five years. If you don’t come out to support Anwar, we will see our opponent carry their prime minister candidate (Zahid).”

Gobind’s comment on BN’s list of candidates was in reference to UMNO dropping several key allies of Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob from its election candidate list, which observers note is an attempt on Zahid’s end to position himself as a possible prime minister candidate.

This is also in light reports that BN candidates were made to sign a pledge to give Zahid the mandate to form the next cabinet if BN emerges victorious in GE15.

Sources said the replacement candidates who have been given candidate appointment letters or “watikah” were also asked to sign letters supporting Zahid by giving him the mandate to form the next cabinet, should UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) win the election.

This includes backing Zahid to negotiate with other political parties and to appoint MPs of his choice as cabinet members, effectively positioning him as the prime minister candidate, according to party insiders.

If BN wins the most seats in GE15, Zahid – as head of the coalition – can be invited by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to form the next government, in line with the federal constitution.

Zahid, however, denied such claims, with Bernama quoting him as calling such allegations “All lies” when asked to comment on the matter.

BN communications director Shamsul Anuar Nasarah had similarly criticised a viral copy of a letter of undertaking purportedly requiring UMNO candidates to back Zahid as prime minister – calling it fake.

“It is confirmed that this ‘Aku Janji’ document that is going viral is false and not true. No such undertaking has been made, Shamsul said in a statement on the BN Comms official Facebook page.

“This is clearly a malicious effort from irresponsible parties and it is a plan to discredit UMNO-BN during the general election.”