Offer of DPM posts still stands, says Zahid

The offer to create three deputy prime minister (DPM) posts still stands even though it was not included in the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto for the 15th general election (GE15), BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

Zahid, who is also Umno president, said if BN wins the upcoming election and forms the new government, the three DPM posts would definitely be created, to represent the peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak, along with ministerial portfolios to be decided later.

"Of course, it will increase the power of Sabah and Sarawak representatives in the Cabinet, not just because of the post of DPM, but also the ministerial portfolios that they will hold.

"Those appointed as DPMs are not only there to assist the prime minister, but also to help the territories (peninsula, Sabah and Sarawak) that they represent," he said in Bagan Datuk.

On Oct 23, Zahid was reported as saying that Sabah BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) could suggest to Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that this proposal be included in the BN and GPS manifesto for GE15.