PAS maintains no need for deputy PM

PAS today maintained its stand that there is no need for a deputy prime minister in the Cabinet, saying this had been the situation since the present government was established following the ousting of Muhyiddin Yassin last year. 

Speaking to reporters, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also said there had been no agreement with Perikatan Nasional (PN) on the appointment of a deputy prime minister. 

"We still hold to our position at the start of this government that there would be no deputy prime minister," he said. 

"There have been talks, but no decisions. We are still busy tackling the people's problems, but we maintain that there should be no deputy prime minister. There is no need for one." 

This comes days after Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president, said he had met with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss several matters including the post of deputy prime minister. 

Muhyiddin, who resigned from the top office after losing the support of the majority last August, said he had met with Ismail to consider what he said was the previous agreement between the coalition and the prime minister. 

"We are not asking for more (than what has been agreed), only about the appointment of a deputy prime minister and ministers as well as those involving government-linked agencies and statutory bodies as well as the government’s allocations," he said.

Hadi however denied that there had been such an agreement, reiterating that talks had been held but no decision made. 

When asked about the use of PN's logo at the 15th general election, he said PAS had discussed a change of symbol to one that would be "new and appropriate". 

"We will keep talking," he said. "Not the flag from before. We are still discussing our own flag."

Adding that no date had been set for the election, he said he was made to understand that it would depend on the global economic situation.

"Until today, our stand is that the term should be finished," he said. "But in pressing situations, it can be held at any time. 

"After the budget," he added. "Table the budget first."