KUALA LUMPUR: A Barisan Nasional win in the 15th General Election may see the return to the cabinet for a former finance minister.
Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob implied Tuesday night that any cabinet under his leadership is incomplete without the presence of an economic expert such as Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
Ismail Sabri, who is also Umno vice-president, said the government is in need of people with vast experience in economics like Johari to develop and steer the country forward.
Johari was the second finance minister when Barisan Nasional helmed the federal government before the 2018 general election (GE14).
"We need people like Johari. It is a loss to the cabinet without him, since the line-up is missing the presence of an economic expert like Johari.
"Therefore, the people (at the Titiwangsa parliamentary constituency) must make sure Johari wins the election if they want him to be appointed (as a minister in the next federal government)," Ismail Sabri said in his speech at the Jelajah Santai Anak-Anak Keramat peogramme at Seri Perlis 2 public housing here today.
Among those present was Johari, who is making a comeback and contesting in Titiwangsa for GE15.
Johari held the seat for one term before he lost the contest to caretaker Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun in GE14
Ismail Sabri said he hoped the constituents in Titiwangsa will vote for a candidate with a proven track record and is capable of providing the best services to the people.
He said although Johari lost the contest in GE14, the latter continued to provide his services to the people of Titiwangsa.
Ismail Sabri also took a veiled jab against Rina, who is contesting in Sepang instead of defending Titiwangsa.
"The person who won the seat (in GE14) is missing (from the constituency).
"And if the candidate representing the same party (Perikatan Nasional) wins the seat, I fear that the person will be missing in action again," he said.
Titiwangsa will see a four-cornered contest in the Nov 19 election.
Apart from Johari, the other contenders are Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air, Pakatan Harapan's Khalid Samad and PN candidate Dr Rosni Adam of Pas.