“If they (the public) don’t believe it, what can I do?,” he said at a press conference at  World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

“The decision for Ismail Sabri to be the prime minister (if BN wins) the election was one made by the party, and if you want to reverse that, you have to go back to the party.”

He was asked to respond to claims by certain quarters that BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be the coalition’s choice for prime minister if it wins the election.

Mohamad pointed out that Ismail’s choice as prime minister candidate could not be retracted unilaterally as it was agreed upon by Umno’s Supreme Council and the annual general assembly.

“You cannot simply change (the prime minister candidate). There is a need to have another annual general meeting, as it was decided there as well,” he said.

“So that is the process. But, of course, it is up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s discretion.”

Opposition politicians such as former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa have said that voting for BN candidates would essentially mean voting for Umno president Zahid, who is facing corruption charges.

Ismail has dismissed such claims as “propaganda” meant to confuse voters.

Zahid has also constantly said Ismail remains BN’s poster boy and candidate for the post of prime minister.

Ismail was appointed the prime minister in August 2021 and led a government with the backing of BN, Perikatan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and several other parties before Parliament was dissolved on Oct 10.

The four-term Bera MP is seeking re-election in a three-cornered fight involving PH’s Abas Awang and PN’s Asmawi Harun.

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