KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali has the potential to be prime minister if the Opposition bloc wins the next general elections, Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan said today.
Khairuddin, one of the founding members of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) but has since left the party, said Azmin has an excellent track record when it comes to managing Selangor as its mentri besar.
“He has an excellent track record, so much so the Selangor state government has a RM4.1 billion surplus under his administration,” he said in a statement.
“His image is very good among the grassroots and people accept his leadership,” he added.
Putting “young and dynamic” candidates such as Azmin as its frontman would help ensure Pakatan Harapan wins in the next general elections, according to Khairuddin.
At 52, Azmin is one of the younger Opposition leaders to have been touted as prime minister material compared to others, like PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, 69. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who has so far been maintained as the Opposition pact’s pick as PM-designate despite being incarcerated, is also 69.
Khairuddin also urged PPBM, which he left after just two months of helping form the party, to be fair to all its members following the alleged removal of Anina Saadudin as the head of its women’s wing (Srikandi).
Khairuddin speculated that Anina’s supposed removal could have taken place due to allegations of a scandal that was being circulated in some blogs recently.
However, he stressed that PPBM has to be fair on the matter as PPBM president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin himself has been accused of having an extramarital affair before, which the latter has denied.
“In my personal opinion, the party president also has to repair his name and image,” Khairuddin said.
He urged PPBM’s supreme council to take actions to restore the party’s reputation, which he said has been “tarnished” lately.
