“What is certain is that TSMY (Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) is also no longer the PM candidate.”
This was the sharp retort from Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, firing back at Muhyiddin over the coalition’s prime ministerial candidate issue.
Ahmad Samsuri, who is also Terengganu Menteri Besar, said he issued the statement following numerous inquiries on the matter.
“I received many questions from journalists regarding Muhyiddin’s remark that ‘Dr Sam is PN chairman, not the PM candidate’.
“Regardless of who the candidate is, our priority now is to strengthen PN and solidify national consensus to face the election more prepared,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, Muhyiddin said the appointment of Ahmad Samsuri, the Kemaman member of parliament and Ru Rendang assemblyman, as PN chairman did not mean he was the coalition’s candidate for prime minister.
The Pagoh MP was quoted as saying that the choice of a PM candidate had never been discussed and that Ahmad Samsuri’s appointment as chairman was made after Pas insisted on it.
The former prime minister added that the PN Supreme Council agreed to the move to provide opportunities for younger leaders.
“I have read many discussions and debates on his eligibility. This is an appointment as PN chairman, not the prime minister candidate. I am quoting (Pas deputy president) Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on this.
“He said this is for the PN chairman to manage the party, but to take a step higher as a PM candidate is a different matter and has not been discussed yet,” Muhyiddin said. NST
