Win first, discuss DPM posts later, says PM Ismail

The question of which party representative will be proposed as deputy prime minister candidates should Barisan Nasional (BN) win the 15th general election (GE15) and become the dominant ruling party will only be decided after the polls, Ismail Sabri Yaakob says.
 
The prime minister said what mattered now was for BN to focus on winning GE15.
 
"(We) don’t know yet, let us (BN) win the election first. If this matter (DPM post) is in our manifesto, then of course we will ensure it is carried out.
 
"In any case, let us wait until we secure a win, then we will discuss, because if we have this proposal in our manifesto, then the proposed (DPM) candidates will be given by Sabah and Sarawak," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Ismail was asked whether there had been any names proposed from Sabah and Sarawak for deputy prime minister positions. 

Asked about PAS’ statement that the three deputy prime minister positions offered by BN were not necessary and merely a desperate attempt to secure votes, Ismail replied: "That is PAS’ view, so let them be with their views. We have our own (views)."

On Oct 23, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi proposed that three deputy prime minister posts be created, one each from Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula, if BN wins GE15.

Zahid suggested that the proposal be included in the Sabah BN and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) manifesto for GE15.

In response, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man was reported to have described the suggestion as election bait to garner support from Sabah and Sarawak voters.