KOTA BARU: The plan by Barisan Nasional (BN) to appoint three deputy prime ministers (DPMs) was a good idea, said Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan.

The Pas secretary-general, however, said the appointment must be based on needs.

He said the position exists on the basis of practice, even though it is not in the Constitution.

"Pas found the idea to be good but even if there is no DPM, the government administration has senior ministers who have their respective portfolios and are heads of clusters.  

'Pas has no problem with the issue but we believe the appointment of three DPMs should depend on needs," the incumbent Kota Baru MP told reporters after visiting traders at a night market here, last night.

He said the proposal must also be discussed properly and it needs to get the feedback from the Cabinet.

Takiyuddin was commenting on BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's statement that BN might include having three DPM in its election manifesto.

Ahmad Zahid said the DPMs could be appointed from Sabah, Sarawak and from the Peninsular if the coalition form the government after the 15th General Election (GE15).

Having this in the BN manifesto, he said, would allow the Prime Minister to pick leaders from the three localities in the country.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president pointed out that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's administration did not have a DPM but four senior minister positions.

Therefore, he said it was not impossible to have three DPMs if BN becomes the dominant coalition after GE15.