KLANG: Selangor Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar and the state's PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi have thanked the King for appointing Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the nation's ninth Prime Minister.

       They also congratulated Ismail Sabri for his appointment.

       Both Noh and Dr Ahmad Yunus issued a joint state in their capacity as Selangor's Muafakat Nasional (MN) leaders.

       They said Selangor MN was confident and believed Ismail Sabri's capability and ability, more so after working closely with him in the 2019 Semenyih by-election which delivered a big win for Umno.

       "It is hoped with the appointment, the Prime Minister can prioritise and give attention to the National Recovery Plan (NRP) in facing the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuilding the economy for the nation and its people to return to normalcy," they said.

       The Semenyih by-election was held in March 2019, after Bersatu assemblyman Bakhtiar Mohd Nor died of cardiac arrest.

       Bersatu was a part of Pakatan Harapan during the by-election.

       In the ensuing battle for the state seat, Umno's Zakaria Hanafi beat Bersatu's Muhammad Aiman Zainali with 19,780 votes against the latter's 17,866 votes.

       Both the leaders added that Selangor MN was confident Ismail Sabri would be able to enhance the efforts to unite the Malay Muslims, as well as the other multiracial communities, especially in the state, to chart a victory in the upcoming 15th General Election.

       "Selangor MN will give its fullest cooperation to help the Prime Minister in carrying out his duties," they said, wishing Ismail Sabri all the best in carrying out his duties.