IPOH, Nov 17 — Perak Perikatan Nasional (PN) secretary Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin said that he will accept the role of mentri besar with open arms if given the responsibility, should the coalition wins the 15th general election (GE15).

Zainol Fadzi, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary, thanked the coalition for listing him as one of its mentri besar candidates.

However, he said the matter can only be decided by the Perak Sultan, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.

"Firstly, what was mentioned by Perak PN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu on the mentri besar candidacy is the usual procedure by all parties to list their candidates. Every time after polling, even in GE14, each party listed its candidates even though some had fewer seats.

"They can list their candidates. There is nothing wrong in that. But ultimately, the final decision rests with the State Ruler,” he told reporters when met after the launch of the Perak PN manifesto at the Meru Casuarina Hotel here.

Earlier, Ahmad Faizal, during a press conference, reiterated that Zainol Fadzi and Perak PAS chief Razman Zakaria were among the candidates from the coalition for the post, should PN be given the mandate.

Previously, Ahmad Faizal also stressed that the coalition will not supersede the Perak Sultan in deciding the coalition’s mentri besar candidate should it win GE15.

Zainol Fadzi will be defending the Sungai Manik state seat and also running for the Teluk Intan federal seat in GE15.

Malaysians go to the polls on Saturday.