Ismail Sabri: KJ Is PM Material
UMNO Youth is urging Barisan Nasional (BN) to field Khairy Jamaluddin as the deputy prime minister candidate as the coalition goes into the national poll.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 10 Nov 2022, 01:36 PM
Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has agreed that caretaker Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is indeed prime minister material for the country, but his time has yet to come
According to Free Malaysia Today, the incumbent Bera member of parliament (MP) said that the former UMNO youth chief's time to helm the country's top post is "not now, but one day in the future".
"Of course, he is qualified to be prime minister in the future," Bernama quoted the Barisan Nasional (BN) prime minister candidate as saying yesterday, 9 November.
"If we win an election, [and] get the support of the party, KJ is definitely one of those qualified to be appointed as prime minister one day."
Ismail Sabri (centre) made the comment while speaking to reporters at the Ayer Hitam constituency yesterday.
Image via Berita HarianIsmail Sabri's acknowledgment of Khairy came after the latter said on Tuesday, 8 November, that he wishes to lead Malaysia one day
While addressing Sungai Buloh voters during a ceramah, Khairy, who is contesting in that constituency, said voting for him is actually voting for the future prime minister of Malaysia.
It is likely he said that in response to the claim that "a vote for BN is a vote for Zahid", which was made by several Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders, including incumbent Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa.
"One day, I want to lead UMNO. One day, I want to be your prime minister, but I must win Sungai Buloh first. Not now. My brother, Ismail Sabri, will be the prime minister. I am 46 years old, and I can wait," he told the 900-strong crowd.
Meanwhile, BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that Khairy running for prime minister under the coalition is a discussion for the future
"It's too early to discuss whether KJ is a possible prime ministerial candidate of the future. We will have to wait until the next general election, rather than this one," New Strats Times quoted him as saying on Wednesday.
Separately, UMNO Youth state executive councillors (exco) member Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin proposed that BN should field Khairy as the deputy prime minister if the coalition wins the 15th General Election (GE15).
"I am confident that if Ismail Sabri, who has already been decided by the coalition as the prime minister candidate, has the courage and confidence to put Khairy forward as the candidate for deputy prime minister, I fully believe that, God willing, BN will win big," said Muhamad Muqharabbin, reported Harian Metro.
