BERA: There is nothing new in not naming or filling the deputy prime minister post, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said when former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as the Prime Minister last year, he too did not name or fill the post deputy prime minister immediately.
"Last time, Muhyiddin did not name a deputy prime minister. So just like previously, there was no one at first and appointed later ...I did not announce yesterday," he said.
Ismail Sabri said this when speaking to reporters after attending the armed forces Exercise (Ex) Para Predator at Kampung Batu Boh near here today.
Whether if anyone would be appointed to helm the position later, Ismail Sabri replied briefly that he does not know yet (tak tahu lagi).
On Friday, Ismail Sabri did not name a deputy prime minister and instead appointed four senior ministers.
They are Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein; Senior International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali; Senior Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof; and Senior Education Minister Dr Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said a study was being carried out to offer pro-rated pension scheme to all armed forces officers and personnel who retired early without obtaining their pension.
"A comprehensive study is being conducted to assist soldiers who retired early to allow them to support their family after ending their service. We hope to offer a suitable scheme for those who retired early.
"Now the welfare of veterans who retired early are handled by the ATM Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) but we will never neglect them. Once the papers are complete, the new minister (Hishammuddin) will bring the matter to be tabled in Parliament," he said.
Last April, the Defence Ministry in a proposal made it compulsory for all armed forces personnel to serve 21 years to be eligible for pension.
Currently, armed forces personnel have the choice to retire with 12, 15 or 18 years' service without receiving a pension.
In a related matter, Ismail Sabri the former Defence Minster, said the 14-day large-scale exercise here involved 1,900 personnel and officers, involving 150 assets including trucks and helicopters.
The Para Predators Exercise Series 1/2021 is carried out by the army through its 10th Brigade Para elite unit based in Terendak, Melaka.
