PETALING JAYA: All Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia MPs have backed Umno vice-president and Bera MP Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as the next prime minister, says its supreme council member Eddin Syazlee Shith.

       Eddin said this involved 35 MPs, which consisted of 31 from Bersatu and another four independent MPs aligned with the party.

       Eddin also said the party leadership resolved that party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would decide on the choice of prime minister on behalf of Bersatu.

       "We all agreed that we will support Ismail Sabri. That was the advice given to us by our president," Malaysiakini reported on Wednesday (Aug 18).

       The Kuala Pillah MP also said Bersatu had yet to make a decision on the deputy prime minister position.

       "Both secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and supreme council member Datuk Seri Azmin Ali were touted (as possible candidates)," he added.

       Eddin also said he believed that Azmin was committed to upholding Bersatu's decision to let Muhyiddin have the final say on negotiations with other coalition parties.

       "It could be 'Barisan Nasional Plus'. It's Barisan and Perikatan now. Bigger," he added.

       On Tuesday (Aug 17), Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun informed all MPs to submit in writing their choice of candidate to Istana Negara via fax, email or WhatsApp before 4pm Wednesday.

       Muhyiddin is presently the caretaker prime minister until his new successor is identified.