PMO rebuts rumours, says Muhyiddin is cancer free, no DPM appointment either

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 — Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been certified by medical experts to be free of cancer, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified today amid rumours claiming he needs to undergo treatment for illness.

The Prime Minister’s Office also clarified that no deputy prime minister will be appointed, contrary to news reports indicating that a candidate from Umno has been chosen.

“Rumours that the prime minister needs to undergo treatment following the cancer he suffered is untrue and malicious. The prime minister has been certified cancer-free by the medical experts who treated him.

“Rumours that there is an appointment for the deputy prime minister’s post are also untrue,” the statement read.

The Malaysian Insight earlier today reported that Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein is expected to be named deputy to Muhyiddin.

The news portal cited anonymous sources saying Hishammuddin could be appointed to the position as early as this week.

However, the news portal also reported that other allies in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) grouping have yet to be informed of the proposal. 

Hishammuddin is the Sembrong MP. He is currently not among the Umno supreme leadership council.

He has, however, held various leadership positions in Umno, including as Umno Youth chief. He was also formerly Umno vice-president until 2018 and did not contest in the party elections that year.

Muhyiddin, who is from Bersatu, did not name a deputy prime minister after taking power last March.

Instead, he appointed four “senior ministers” on March 9, 2020 to aid him in his duties, including chairing Cabinet meetings on his behalf if he was to be absent from the country.

The four senior ministers are International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (formerly from PKR, now with Bersatu); Bersatu vice-president Mohd Radzi Md Jidin as education minister; Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Umno); and Gabungan Parti Sarawak chief whip and Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as works minister.