PETALING JAYA: With Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi possibly appointed as deputy prime minister, an Umno source said the party president could also helm either the defense or home affairs portfolio.

It is learned that Umno has requested for home affairs ministry which Parti Keadilan Rakyat is also vying.

“Other than home affairs, Anwar may also offer rural development ministry,” said the source.

If Umno eventually secures both the home affairs and defense portfolios, these two ministries will very likely be led by Ahmad Zahid and Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

Additionally, the pro-Zahid Umno supreme council member also divulged that he believed PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who was defeated in the general election, could be appointed as a senator and then a minister.

Saifuddin was domestic trade and consumer affairs minister in the previous Pakatan Harapan government.

The source also said Umno’s MP for Pengerang Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said will also be in the list, and could likely be minister in the prime minister’s department in charge of parliamentary and legal affairs.

The other two likely Umno ministers in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s cabinet are vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and incoming MP for Titiwangsa Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani, both having previous ministerial experiences.