Perikatan Nasional (PN) Youth chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden has named five coalition leaders as potential prime minister candidates for the 16th general election (GE16), with Hamzah Zainudin the sole nominee from Bersatu.
Speaking on Harakah Daily’s Dari Jalan Pahang podcast, Afnan also listed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, and vice-presidents Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and Idris Ahmad as PAS‘s picks for the top post.
Hamzah, Bersatu’s deputy president, was named by the Alor Setar MP as a possible candidate given his position as opposition leader.
“Personally, I’d say PAS should lead, as they have the most MPs. But if you ask from PN’s perspective, I’d say Hamzah.
“From PAS, the Marang MP (Hadi) has served as a menteri besar and could be prime minister. The Kubang Kerian MP (Tuan Ibrahim) has also served in the Cabinet.
“Kemaman MP (Samsuri), a vice-president, is currently the Terengganu menteri besar and has led the state government, so he could be prime minister, too. The same goes for Bagan Serai MP (Idris Ahmad), who has served as a minister,” he said.
Afnan, the PAS Youth chief, was commenting on speculation over PN’s prime ministerial candidate following an opposition rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 26 which called for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s resignation.
The issue of PN’s poster boy for GE16 has been a recurring point of contention among its component parties.
In November last year, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin denied that Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had been confirmed as PN’s official candidate for GE16, stressing that PAS should lead the coalition.
However, several leaders from Bersatu and Gerakan have continued to express support for Muhyiddin as PN’s main prime ministerial candidate.
On July 29, Hashim said PN would only decide on its prime minister candidate after successfully taking over the federal administration in Putrajaya.
Afnan said PN’s biggest challenge would be forming a strong governing team if it wins the election.
He also claimed that PN’s growing strength had prompted attempts by its rivals to sow discord between PAS and Bersatu over trivial matters, such as PAS’s absence from Muhyiddin‘s meeting with other opposition parties last month to form a united opposition front.
“There are no problems in relations among PN MPs,” he said.
