In an interview with FMT, Ismail said opposition leaders had no other issue to play up to unnerve BN except to speculate about the prime minister’s post.
BN has declared Ismail to be its poster boy for the general election, and named him as the coalition’s choice to be the next prime minister.
Ismail said the opposition refrain about Zahid was because “maybe they’re afraid that I’m still (BN’s) prime minister candidate”.
“That’s why they’re trying to confuse (voters),” he said. “They definitely want BN and Umno leaders to be divided.
“But BN’s decision to nominate me as prospective prime minister was made by the Umno Supreme Council, the political bureau, and the annual general assembly. In fact, it was welcomed by the (BN) component parties.
“The entire BN leadership, including our chairman Dato Seri Zahid Hamidi, (deputy chairman) Tok Mat (Mohamad Hasan), and the others, have clearly stated that I am (BN’s) one and only prime minister candidate.”
PH-PN history of failure
Ismail said opposition leaders were trying to sow doubt among voters about BN’s capability to establish stability in the nation, one of the coalition’s main messages for its election campaign.
He said the history of Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional proved that they were incapable of forming a stable government.
He said BN was clear about its goal if it gained power. “Our manifesto does not only touch on the economy, but also on institutional transformation.”
What the opposition said
The opposition attack on Zahid as prospective prime minister began as soon as the general election campaign got under way last week.
PH leaders warned voters that “a vote for BN is a vote for Zahid as prime minister” while PN chimed in by accusing Ismail of being Zahid’s puppet.
This claim was also made by Pejuang chairman and former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who insisted that Zahid would hold the top post if BN won the polls, despite denials from Ismail and Zahid, among many others.
Ismail, a four-term MP for Bera, Pahang, became prime minister in August 2021, leading a coalition government comprising MPs from Barisan Nasional, Bersatu, PAS, GPS, GRS and several minor parties.
He is seeking re-election in Bera, and is being challenged by Abas Awang (PH) and Asmawi Harun (PN). In the 2018 general election, Ismail was returned by a majority of 2,311 votes, against candidates from PH and PAS.