Zahid denies running for Prime Minister

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, head of UMNO, allegedly rejected proposing himself as a prime minister (PM) candidate if Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin loses his confidence vote in Parliament next month.

According to The Vibes, the Bagan Datuk MP stated that the topic has never been considered or even talked in the party up to date.

He allegedly stated while referring to the proposal of him presenting himself as PM candidate that it was nonsense and that no decision has been made about it. He further stated that it was not even brought up in the party.

Ahmad Zahid asserted that in the case Muhyiddin fails the motion of confidence, UMNO would then debate on a new Prime Minister candidate, but not sooner.

“We will do it when the moment arises, and that is when and if Muhyiddin fails in his vote of confidence. But nothing for the time being,” he explained in response to the questions regarding the matter of PM candidacy.

This follows as MalaysiaNow recently reported, citing two unidentified sources, that Zahid, a former deputy prime minister, has proposed himself for the leadership position if Muhyiddin is deposed from being the Prime Minister.

According to one of the sources, the UMNO president has talked about the subject with the party’s MPs during a recent closed-door meeting.

Whereas, according to another source, the decision was taken owing to doubts about Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ability to dispose the corruption allegations against Zahid even if UMNO supports the PKR president as prime minister.

Muhyiddin said last week that he will seek a vote of confidence in the Dewan Rakyat next month. Zahid submitted a list of 14 UMNO MPs to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last week, informing him of their signed statutory statements to withdraw support for Muhyiddin and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.