Politics

As poster boy, aren't you responsible for BN's defeat too, asks Shahrir Samad

KUALA LUMPUR: The blame for Barisan Nasional's defeat in the 15th General Election should be placed not only on its chairman but also its "poster boy", said an Umno veteran.

Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said since Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was the prime minister before GE15, it was only fair that he share the responsibility with BN chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"Ismail Sabri was the prime minister who dissolved Parliament after the 2023 Budget was tabled (although) it wasn't debated.

"Throughout the GE15 period, Ismail Sabri was also the caretaker prime minister. At the same time, he is also BN's poster boy, which means if BN had won, he would've been the prime minister.

"How can you say if BN wins you will be prime minister, but when it loses it is someone else's fault?

"When BN lost, Ismail Sabri placed the entire responsibility on Zahid as Umno president. Why not share (the burden) a little," he said in a statement on Facebook today.

Shahrir, who is a former Johor Baru member of parliament, questioned Ismail Sabri's recent remark that Zahid should take the blame for BN's devastating defeat.

Ismail Sabri had said Zahid must listen to the views of party members instead of shutting everyone out.

The Bera MP also said that in every defeat someone must take the blame, citing former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak's decision to resign as Umno president and BN chairman after the party lost in GE14.

However, Shahrir pointed out that Najib did that because he was both the Umno president and prime minister.

"But in GE15, Zahid is the president while Ismail Sabri is the prime minister. So why is it that only the Umno president has to have a big heart and take responsibility for the party's loss?

"Even if Ismail Sabri as prime minister and poster boy did not have much impact on GE15, Ismail Sabri still has 'some share' in BN's performance."

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