Najib’s move to make Hishammuddin the next prime minister?
(FMT) – Has Najib lost faith in Zahid?
Analyst says PM Najib Razak may make Hishammuddin the prime minister after the general election, while Amanah’s Salahuddin Ayub hints it may even be before GE14.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi can no longer sit comfortably in his deputy prime minister’s seat now that Hishammuddin Hussein has been appointed special functions minister.
Political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Hishammuddin’s surprise appointment was a clear indication that the post of prime minister was not guaranteed for Zahid, who is also Umno’s acting deputy president.
“It’s clear that Hishammuddin is another prime ministerial candidate, besides Zahid,” he told FMT.
He explained: “In Sarawak, (the late) Adenan Satem was appointed the state’s special functions minister before he was made the chief minister.
“The purpose of the position is to help (the minister) adjust to the new situation that is expected to take place after the general election.”
Prime Minister Najib Razak in a statement this afternoon, announced that Hishammuddin had been appointed as a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of special functions with immediate effect.
Hishammuddin, who is also an Umno vice-president, retains his Defence Minister post as well.
Awang also said the appointment was a way for Najib to “test the water”, and to gauge how the public and Umno members would react to Hishammuddin’s promotion.