With critics purged, is Zahid looking to retain Umno presidency?

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi looks set to retain his top position within the party, according to sources who expect him to defend the post uncontested in party polls that must be held by May next year.

They point to the “internal purge” the party is undertaking, as well as an expected amendment to its constitution to be in line with the anti-hopping law to remove members, even if they are elected lawmakers, who disobey party directives.

The party insiders say one obvious sign that Zahid will defend the president’s post, despite Barisan Nasional’s dismal performance in the 15th general election – and even with his baggage of 47 graft charges – is his appointment as deputy prime minister of the Pakatan Harapan-led unity government.

The senior position provides him the standing and means to secure his position further, they said.

His deputy, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, once touted to be a potential candidate for the president post, was also appointed as defence minister, another move party insiders said aims to placate the Rembau MP from having “any ideas of taking on Zahid”.

As such, it is also believed that the Umno deputy president’s post will be uncontested as further means for Zahid to secure Mohamad’s support.

Other senior Umno politicians such as Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and Datuk Seri Shamsul Annuar Nasarah were appointed as deputy finance minister and deputy home minister respectively in what party sources see as another move to secure Zahid’s position, as they are also known to be his close allies.

“We have heard that it is very likely that the president’s post and the deputy president’s post will not be contested. This could be raised in the coming general assembly in January.

“The writing is on the wall already, as there is no one who can outdo Zahid’s camp in the coming party elections. Even if a “cai” (candidate list) is to be produced, there are no more heavyweights.

“And even if there is to be a supposed rebellion from the remaining old guards, they won’t have enough support from the division leaders. There is no upside in going against the current party leadership, at least for division leaders,” said a party insider on the condition of anonymity.

Unfortunately, this also means that political patronage still persists within Umno, the insider lamented.

“Let’s face it, Zahid’s camp has the best political leverage because of their positions in government. The narrative now is that Umno remains with the government because of Zahid.

“All the old division leaders, even branch leaders who wanted to resign because of the election results, decided to stay on because Umno is part of the government,” said the party insider.

However, Zahid could face difficulty in securing division support in Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Terengganu, Kelantan, and Johor, another source said.

“Most of these states suffered greatly in GE15 and were initially looking for blood, with many of its division leaders calling for Zahid to step down.

“But the situation seems to be calmer with the formation of the government.”

In the case of Perlis, Zahid has angered Umno divisions there by not fielding local warlord Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, who retaliated by defending the Arau parliamentary seat on a Perikatan Nasional ticket and won. Arau Wanita chief Datin Seri Shamsiah Mohd Yassin was sacked last week by the Umno Supreme Council.

Also sacked last week were former Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa and the Maran Wanita chief, Datin Seri Fatimah Kassim, while Supreme Council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi said more sackings can be expected as the party rids itself of those who do not toe the line.

This has been taken as a warning to other Umno members critical of Zahid.

“Many are arguing that it is better to support the president now rather than share Annuar’s fate. No one wants to be left out in the cold,” said the party insider.

Lack of strong contenders

Annuar, a long-time Umno stalwart hailing from Kelantan, was thought to be an obvious contender against Zahid, as the former Umno secretary-general had been vehemently against working with DAP and was consistently in favour of working with Perikatan Nasional.

He was not fielded as a candidate in GE15.

After the election, Annuar said Zahid should take responsibility for BN’s worst-ever performance. He also led 40 Umno division chiefs in demanding Zahid’s resignation.

During the political impasse before the government was formed, he accused Zahid of “premeditated” actions that favoured political cooperation with PH.

With his sacking, Annuar is now out of the way.

Another Umno veteran thought of as a possible contender is Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who was firm in his stance – which was actually Umno’s stance decided by its general assembly – to not work with PH.

He purportedly gathered nine other statutory declarations from elected BN MPs to support a PN government. However, these were later nullified by the BN Supreme Council.

Hishammuddin was not appointed to any government position and currently stands as a backbencher.

“He barely has any support from local division leaders. While his stance of ‘No Anwar, No DAP’ may get him a little applause, I doubt it will translate into proper support,” said another party insider. 

Zahid had faced challengers previously for the president’s post. In 2018, he was in a five-way fight against Khairy Jamaluddin, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, and two other relative unknowns – Mohamed Iqbal Maricair and Mohd Yusof Musa @ Jamaluddin.

Zahid had won the post when he garnered 78 votes compared with Khairy’s 53 and Tengku Razaleigh’s 28 votes. The other two contenders failed to garner any votes.

Tengku Razaleigh, in his 80s and having lost his Gua Musang seat, is an unlikely contender in the coming Umno election.

Khairy, who also lost in GE15, recently said he was still open to the possibility of vying for the president’s post again.

In 2018, too, Annuar had stood for the Umno deputy president’s post but lost to Mohamad.

The party election that year was considered historic as it was the first party polls held after BN had lost federal power for the first time in the general election that year. 

It was also the first party polls since 1988 that the president’s post was contested.

This time, BN’s performance, with only 30 seats, is even worse than in 2018, but in a twist, the president of its linchpin, Umno, appears to be stronger than ever. – The Vibes, December 14, 2022