KUALA LUMPUR – The culmination of the 2022 Umno annual general assembly (AGM) saw several shifts in the balance of power for the Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin party.
The assembly comes just months after the once-triumphant party recorded its worst-ever electoral performance during the 15th general election (GE15) last November, securing only 26 seats out of the dismal 30 constituencies won by the coalition.
Regardless, political observers earlier predicted that the assembly will see the consolidation of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s influence and future in politics.
Evidently, the motion to leave Zahid and his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s posts uncontested had proven the pundits’ assertions.
Stable unity government
While there are still murmurs that the government remains unstable due to volatility within Umno, and pockets of resistance towards Zahid’s leadership, his extended tenure as party president has crystalised the administration’s grip on Putrajaya.
This is because the current composition of the government will remain intact as long as Zahid, and those aligned with his policies of cooperating with Pakatan Harapan (PH), hold senior party positions within Umno.
Without coincidence, proponents of the unity government include Mohamad who is also a cabinet minister in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration.
The narrative that Zahid’s leadership will ensure the stability of the administration has seemingly captivated the Umno gallery, with a large segment of the party acknowledging his role in forming the unity government.
During the assembly, Zahid had even made veiled threats towards his purported rivals in the party, especially Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who purportedly led 10 BN lawmakers to side with Perikatan Nasional (PN).
The AGM also largely solidified Umno’s direction with PH, with this relationship expected to be put through its paces in the upcoming elections in six states later this year.
Zahid’s political tact
The conclusion of the AGM also saw Zahid cementing his authority over the party at least until the next election cycle, despite earlier calls for him to step down following BN’s blistering election defeat.
Zahid’s political tact, beginning with his talks with PH after GE15, had provided him with the platform to negotiate for BN’s inclusion in the unity government.
This led to BN opting to join the unity government and the Bagan Datuk MP being named as the deputy prime minister while ensuring the coalition does not return to the opposition fold.
Despite BN’s previous aversion towards PH, the current narrative is that the former coalition has much-needed leverage for the next general election, now that it is part of the ruling government.
In another strategic move, Zahid had also dropped several party “warlords” who opposed him, removing other potential contenders to his authority within the party.
While former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin and Hishammuddin were tipped to be potential leadership challengers, Zahid’s “overwhelming” control over the party renders attempts to topple him futile.
No contest for posts, but skirmishes elsewhere?
Although Zahid retained his Umno leadership, numerous issues which surfaced throughout the general assembly may induce sleepless nights for the party chief.
Khairy, who was succeeded by Mohamad in the Rembau parliamentary constituency, had long been up in arms over the top two posts going uncontested.
Khairy made it known that he was firmly against the top two posts remaining uncontested, going so far as to claim that the voting for the motion had been rigged.
Khairy appears to not be the lone fighter, as a number of delegates had also opposed the no-contest motion when debating the president’s policy speech.
The Federal Territories and Johor Umno delegates had shared similar viewpoints on putting the top two titles up for grabs, with the former warning that an opposing call might leave the party liable to public backlash.
The true benchmark on delegates’ acceptance of the motion is, however, difficult to determine due to the selective broadcasting of speakers, with only a limited number of debates disclosed to the media and public.
While those pushing for the no-contest motion insisted on keeping unity within the party, refusing to budge from the status quo might be Umno’s own undoing. – The Vibes, January 15, 2023
