UMNO in Crisis: Are 14 MPs the Saviours or the Last Gasp?

UMNO in Crisis: Are 14 MPs the Saviours or the Last Gasp?


17 Mar 2025 • 9:00 AM MYT


Mihar Dias
A behaviourist by training, a consultant and executive coach by profession

Photo Credit: Malay Mail

By Mihar Dias March 2025


A storm is brewing within UMNO, and if EDISI Siasat’s cryptic message is to be believed, 14 UMNO MPs have stepped forward to "save the party" from what they see as Anwar Ibrahim and Zahid Hamidi’s destructive leadership. https://focusmalaysia.my/14-mp-umno-to-rebel-against-anwar-netizens-ask-if-they-are-heroes-or-betrayers/


While details remain scarce, the implications are clear—dissatisfaction with the current leadership has reached a boiling point. But are these MPs truly UMNO’s saviours, or is this just another episode in the party’s long history of internal power struggles?


A Party on the Brink


For months, whispers of discontent within UMNO have grown louder. Despite Zahid’s repeated assurances that UMNO remains relevant under the Madani government, the reality on the ground tells a different story.


UMNO’s grassroots are restless. Many believe that the party has lost its identity, trapped in a political arrangement that serves Anwar more than it does UMNO.


If these 14 MPs are indeed rallying against the leadership, it signals a deeper fracture within UMNO—one that could lead to either a drastic shift in power or the slow, painful decline of the party. The big question remains: What exactly are these MPs planning? Are they breaking away? Challenging Zahid’s leadership? Or simply sending a warning shot?


The Zahid-Anwar Dilemma


One of UMNO’s biggest challenges is Zahid’s leadership—or lack thereof. His legal troubles, combined with the perception that he is more interested in self-preservation than in strengthening UMNO, have eroded confidence within the party. At the same time, Anwar’s government, which UMNO is part of, has failed to deliver the political stability or economic breakthroughs that were promised.


For many UMNO members, this partnership with Pakatan Harapan feels like a slow death. Zahid is seen as Anwar’s safety net, ensuring that UMNO stays loyal to the coalition. But what happens if that safety net collapses? If these 14 MPs make a move, it could trigger a larger exodus—or at the very least, force a leadership change within UMNO.


The Money Factor


A rather telling response to the EDISI Siasat post suggests that the reason some MPs remain in the government is financial.


The user pointed out that leaving the Madani bloc means cutting off access to the perks of power—an indirect jab at how lucrative it has been for some politicians to remain in government. https://focusmalaysia.my/14-mp-umno-to-rebel-against-anwar-netizens-ask-if-they-are-heroes-or-betrayers/


The mention of RM427.5 million in 17 months is a not-so-subtle reference to corruption cases linked to previous administrations. https://focusmalaysia.my/14-mp-umno-to-rebel-against-anwar-netizens-ask-if-they-are-heroes-or-betrayers/


The fact that this is being openly discussed in response to UMNO’s internal crisis suggests that the party’s struggle is not just about ideology or leadership, but also about who controls the resources.


What’s Next for UMNO?


With three years to go until the next election, any major political realignment now would be risky. But if dissatisfaction within UMNO continues to grow, Zahid may find himself in a precarious position. The 14 MPs may just be the beginning.


If UMNO does not resolve its internal conflict soon, it risks becoming a footnote in Malaysian politics—a once-powerful party reduced to a divided and directionless faction.


The question is whether these 14 MPs are truly fighting to "save" UMNO or if they are simply trying to position themselves for the next political opportunity.


For now, Malaysians will watch and wait. But one thing is clear—something is very wrong in UMNO, and the cracks are getting harder to ignore.