Datuk Puad Zarkashi, an Umno supreme council member, said today the idea of appointing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as “mentor minister” could be an attempt by Bersatu leaders to rule by proxy.
The Agong is expected to name Muhyiddin’s successor today after calling on all MPs to nominate a candidate via a statutory declaration.
“His Majesty has decreed that the new prime minister form a unity government. The point is to reduce politicking. All parties will share responsibility and be included,” the Umno leader posted on Facebook.
“So, don’t turn this new government into a proxy government. There are invisible hands behind it. There’s no need to propose a mentor minister (post),” he added.
It was reported earlier today that political negotiations to appoint a new prime minister had included a proposal to make Muhyiddin a mentor minister.
Bersatu is also set to back its secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin to be Ismail Sabri’s deputy prime minister candidate.
Puad said that making Muhyiddin a minister was akin to putting the same Perikatan Nasional coalition in power.
“We don’t want a PN 2.0 in power. (We want) a really new government,” he wrote.
Puad is aligned to Zahid. However, he is not an MP.