SUNGAI BULOH: Barisan Nasional (BN) does not have a deputy prime minister candidate in the event it carries the 15th General Election(GE15).
Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the matter had yet to be discussed among BN leaders.
"We win first. Whether the candidate is from Umno, Sabah, or Sarawak, the decision can only be made after we win. If you give BN a chance, we will appoint a DPM.
"Who that is, we will decide (once we cross that bridge)," he said during campaigning in support of BN's Sungai Buloh candidate, caretaker Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, in Uptown Kota Damansara.
Asked if Khairy had an opportunity for the post, Ismail Sabri reiterated that the coalition had to win GE15 first.
By convention, Umno's president and its deputy are appointed as prime minister and deputy in the past, by virtue of being BN chairman and deputy chairman, respectively.
However, this changed when Ismail Sabri, an Umno vice-president became prime minister in 2021. There were also no candidates appointed to the post of DPM.
Recently, BN had pledged to have three deputies, one each from the peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak.
Meanwhile, when asked about whether he would go for the DPM position if BN wins Khairy reiterated what Ismail Sabri said.
"As mentioned by PM, let us win first. I have a good relationship with PM and I look forward to supporting him in cabinet in whatever role. The most important thing is winning first."
Khairy went on record for the first time to say he wants to be a future prime minister on Nov 8.
He received Ismail Sabri's endorsement as a future prime minister the following day.
Khairy had said now was not his time, and should BN win the election, Ismail Sabri, whom he described as his big brother, would be prime minister.
"I'm 46 years old, I can wait for a while, but not for too long. I am ready but I have to prove it with Sungai Buloh first," he had said.
The Sungai Buloh parliament seat will see a seven-cornered fight in GE15.
Khairy will take on Datuk R. Ramanan of Pakatan Harapan, Mohd Ghazali Md Hamin (Perikatan Nasional), Mohd Akmal Yusoff (Parti Pejuang tanah Air), Ahmad Jufliz Faiza (Parti Rakyat Malaysia) and two independent candidates, Syed Abdul Razak Syed Long Al Sagoff and Nurhaslinda Basri.
In GE14, PH's R. Sivarasa won the seat but he has been dropped this election, reportedly due to health issues.