Like PAS, Umno too will name Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister candidate for GE15, says Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

Umno will name Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the prime minister in the next general election, says party secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa.

He said Umno shared the same stand as PAS in their support for Muhyiddin as prime minister following a meeting between them two weeks ago.

“During the meeting, we agreed to name him as the prime minister if we win the general election.

“The message of support will also be conveyed to our members through our own party channels,” he said during a press conference here yesterday.

In Kuching, Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Tan Sri Dr James Masing said Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and PAS would sit out the coming Sarawak state election and would assist the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS).

He said this was conveyed by Bersatu president Muhyiddin and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang during a meeting of party heads under the Perikatan

Nasional government in Putrajaya on Wednesday.

“Sarawak was assured by Muhyiddin and Hadi that although both parties have their branches in Sarawak, they will not contest the state election.

“This assurance will not only clear the way for GPS to fight the Opposition head-on but is a good sign that Perikatan component parties respect and honour their commitments to assist GPS when the state election is called,” Masing said in a statement yesterday.

PRS is one of four component parties in GPS, along with Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) and Progressive Democratic Party (PDP).

Sarawak’s next state election is due in mid-2021 but there is speculation that it could be called this year.

Masing said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg told the meeting that the state election was “just around the corner” and GPS was ready for it.

He said Abang Johari also reiterated GPS’ support for Muhyiddin as prime minister and would give him full support to lead Perikatan in the 15th General Election.

However, Masing said it was important for any historical and personality differences within Perikatan, especially between Bersatu and Umno, to be ironed out before GE15.