Gerakan president Dominic Lau said the differing views on the opposition’s prime minister candidate for the 16th general election will not weaken Perikatan Nasional.
Rather, the dissenting views would strengthen the coalition as it seeks to wrest Putrajaya from the unity government.
“We appreciate the diversity of views in order to achieve the same goal, namely forming a stable government and one of integrity,” he told FMT.
Lau also said he was confident Perikatan Nasional component leaders will be able to prudently manage the conflicting views within the coalition.
The Penang PN chairman said what was important now was for the coalition to work hard in order to be voted into power.
“We can discuss the prime minister candidate later.”
Lau was asked to comment on PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement earlier today that the party wanted PN’s prime minister candidate for the next general election (GE16) to be a leader who is aged below 70 and physically healthy.
Hadi also said only a leader with integrity should be nominated.
Hadi’s remarks appear to be a rejection of PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin, who is 78 and was nominated by Bersatu as its GE16 prime minister candidate a week ago.
Muhyiddin‘s deputy, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, is 68 and has often been touted as a potential prime minister candidate for PN.
Meanwhile, Bersatu information chief Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz said the matter of the prime ministerial candidate would be raised and discussed by the coalition, which would make a collective decision.
“As a matter of principle, we respect the views of the respective PN components,” he said when contacted.
The PN Supreme Council is expected to discuss the issue of its prime minister candidate next week.
