The Prime Minister’s Office has denied that Muhyiddin Yassin was hiring a deputy after various reports cited sources tipping Foreign Affairs Minister Hishammuddin Hussein as the man for the job.
The rumor was refuted in a statement today, ahead of the prime minister’s COVID-19 address to the nation. Reports had said that the deputy prime minister role would be handed to someone from UMNO as part of efforts to improve ties with the National Alliance government.
“Rumors saying that there will be an appointment for the position of Deputy Prime Minister are untrue,” the statement said. Currently, nobody holds the DPM position under Muhyiddin’s administration.
The office also denied rumors that the 73-year-old Muhyiddin was battling cancer.
“Rumors that the Prime Minister is undergoing treatment for cancer is not true and has malicious intent,” the statement said. “The Prime Minister is cancer-free, as confirmed by medical experts who treated him.”
Muhyiddin was treated for pancreatic cancer in 2018.
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