KUALA LUMPUR – In the past week, embattled Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been under copious amounts of pressure after key ally Umno withdrew support for him and his Perikatan Nasional government.
Following the Umno Supreme Council bombshell last Tuesday, two party ministers have resigned from the PN cabinet, while several party leaders have relinquished their posts in government-linked companies.
As tensions mount in the wake of the departures of Umno ministers and political appointees, can Muhyiddin overcome this “mental diarrhoea” or will he crack under pressure?
Muhyiddin and Co demoralised?
Social reform group Aliran’s Anil Netto said Umno’s withdrawal must be demoralising for the prime minister and his administration.
“The prime minister must be under tremendous pressure with each passing day,” he told The Vibes.
“Given the departure of a group of Umno MPs, it is hard to see how he can come up with a majority when the Dewan Rakyat holds a vote of confidence on his leadership on September 6.
“Umno, divided as it is, seems to be applying more pressure, with each departing minister or political appointee. Psychologically, it must be demoralising for the prime minister and his team.”
Last Tuesday, Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah quit as energy and natural resources minister, citing obedience and loyalty to Umno. Three days later, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad became the second Umno cabinet member to desert Muhyiddin, when she stepped down as higher education minister.
The Parit Sulong MP in a brief statement thanked Muhyiddin for her appointment, but said she will obey the Umno Supreme Council directive to withdraw support for him and his government.
Other Umno leaders and Supreme Council members to resign from high-profile posts in the past week are:
– Vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who quit as non-independent, non-executive chairman of Boustead Holdings Bhd on Friday.
– Datuk Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii, who stepped down as Armed Forces Fund Board member on Friday.
– Sabah chapter Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain, who quit as Boustead Plantation Bhd independent and non-executive director on Saturday.
– Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who stepped down as Universiti Malaysia Sabah board chairman on Saturday.
– Datuk Rosni Sohar, who quit as board member of the National Higher Education Fund Corporation on Saturday.
Universiti Malaya academic Prof Awang Azman Awang Pawi told The Vibes that the slow, suspenseful departure of Umno leaders from their respective posts will have a continuous impact on the Pagoh MP.
“It is Umno’s tactical strategy to put continuous pressure on Muhyiddin. If Umno (ministers and political appointees) were to leave en bloc, that will leave an impact only once.
“But if it’s done slowly and (Umno members leave) one by one, it will give a more lasting impact.
“It also serves to act as an element of political suspense to outsiders, as it keeps them wondering what is next.”
Don’t underestimate Muhyiddin’s ability to survive headwinds
However, Awang Azman said the prime minister’s capability and strength to manoeuvre through this crisis should not be underestimated.
“It is undeniable that the pressure from Umno is huge, but as long as Muhyiddin does not step down as prime minister, it shows that the pressure does not affect him. Muhyiddin has still not surrendered.
“About a month from today, the Parliament will sit on September 6 (to table a motion of confidence and determine the legitimacy of Muhyiddin’s position in Dewan Rakyat), and we know a month is a long time in the political arena.
“Anything can happen during this period. More bargaining and horse-trading will ensue, with efforts to persuade Umno MPs or those in Pakatan Harapan to ensure Muhyiddin is still in power.”
Singapore Institute of International Affairs senior fellow Oh Ei Sun also shares the same sentiment, saying Muhyiddin will use every trick up his sleeve to buy more time, and hope that Umno MPs will change their minds with the “right inducement”.
Umno cabinet members adopt wait-and-see approach
However, Oh thinks Umno ministers are adopting a wait-and-see approach following the party’s stance of severing ties with PN.
“At this point, frankly speaking, Umno ministers like (Datuk Seri) Hishammuddin (Hussein) and Khairy (Jamaluddin) are adopting a wait-and-see attitude. I will not say this signals that they have different camps, but it is a ‘wait and see’ what kind of inducements they will receive.
“Umno ministers and deputy ministers have to make a decision between short-term inducements – staying in cabinet, getting projects and so on – versus long-term political survival.
“If they support this government, the long-term political survival will be in terms of electability. In terms of which party leadership will nominate them for the next election, I think it is very much in doubt.”
No intention to fuel a slow burn, Umno just plagued by internal crisis
A psychological warfare expert who wishes to remain anonymous, believes that it is not Umno’s intention to opt for a slow burn in its pressure campaign on Muhyiddin, but its members are just ignoring the Supreme Council decision.
“In a war, if you want to eliminate and finish your enemy as soon as possible, there is no point playing the slow game. You will only give the advantage to your opponent.
“I don’t think they are ‘burning it slowly’, it is more that the members are ignoring the party’s stand.
“The culture in Umno, to me, is that the members are used to living with (ministerial) positions, perks and material benefits. Members’ loyalties lie with their positions, whether as ministers or deputy ministers. If they are loyal to the party, they would have exited the PN coalition en bloc.”
He said cracks are deepening in Umno as Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the only party president who has not helmed the position of prime minister, and hence, is unable to “provide” for his members.
“Umno has never had a president who has no power (in government). Zahid is not that outstanding to be No. 1. He was a good No. 2 who gave (Datuk Seri) Najib (Razak) the comfort. Zahid, as the president, has a lot of limitations and lacks understanding in things.
“To make things worse, he does not have the position of prime minister. What can he give his members?
“In his capacity, he has some money, but not the kind of money that he can give to buy their support. These people are too “hungry”, the level of greed is very high. If Zahid doesn’t have the material and things to offer to supporters, why should they be loyal to him?”
Muhyiddin holds sway, has the upper hand
Despite being put under immense pressure, the expert said it is Muhyiddin who holds all the cards, as seen in the move by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to undo Umno’s postponement of its internal elections in an attempt to pressure and weaken the party.
“Not only those who have tendered their resignations, but the whole party is now at stake. Muhyiddin has that kind of power because RoS is under the Home Ministry.
“It is not just those individuals who are under threat, but the whole party is under threat.
“So, they need really strong fighters. They need ‘Viet Cong’. How many ‘Viet Cong’ (soldiers) does Zahid have to go against a super power? If they don’t have ‘Viet Cong’, they are all gone,” he said, in jest.
RoS is tasked with handling the registration of non-governmental organisations and political parties.
On Friday, RoS director-general Jasri Kasim said the decision is made based on the Supreme Council’s meeting minutes, adding that the delay is invalid as the council office-bearers’ terms for 2018-2021 ended on June 30.
Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan defiantly said the Supreme Council has absolute power to determine whether to delay party polls for another 18 months in light of the current Covid-19 pandemic. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
