Ismail said he would reappoint the Rembau MP as it would be “a loss” if the latter was no longer at the helm of the ministry, Bernama reported.

Putrajaya, he said, had approved the RM600 million Infectious Disease Institute of Malaysia in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, because Khairy was the health minister.

“Losing this minister (Khairy) will be a loss because when another person gets the portfolio, the project might be cancelled,” he was quoted as saying.

Ismail also said the allocations announced for the various initiatives under the 2023 budget, tabled yesterday, were ready to be utilised.

And this was why Barisan Nasional (BN) needed to win GE15 to ensure the proposed initiatives were implemented and the aids distributed.

“The people have to ensure that BN wins GE15. The money is already there and ready to be utilised (for the 2023 budget initiatives).”

Ismail cautioned the people against being easily taken in by the opposition’s election pledges, noting that Pakatan Harapan (PH) had failed to fulfil some of its promises during its 22-month-old reign.

This included reducing petrol prices and abolishing tolls.

“When they could not do so, they said a manifesto is not like the Quran, which cannot be changed.

“So, I would like to remind you all not to forget the promises that PH failed to fulfil.”