Tajuddin case may cause Ismail to hold off on elections
The prime minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, on a walkabout in Putrajaya on Saturday as he took respite from Umno’s power struggle. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: The removal of Tajuddin Abdul Rahman from the Umno Supreme Council is likely to have strengthened the resolve of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to delay calling for a general election, a political scientist said.
Wong Chin Huat said Tajuddin’s removal makes clear “who’s the boss” in Umno and Ismail might fear looking like a lame duck now if he agrees to hold the nationwide polls earlier.
“With the president controlling the candidate list in GE15, and Ismail’s loyalists likely to be replaced, he may lose his job after the elections, despite Umno’s promise to make him their poster boy.
“So why should Ismail call for an early election knowing he would likely lose his job even if Umno wins big?” Wong told FMT.
The Barisan Nasional tradition is for the Umno president to be nominated as prime minister. Ismail, however, is a vice-president.
The Umno faction aligned to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is currently pushing for GE15 to be held as soon as possible.
As to whether Umno could make life difficult for Ismail should he continue delaying the polls, Wong said that at worst, those aligned to Zahid can only ensure that Ismail is disowned in the party election, which will be held six months after GE15
This would be no different from dropping Ismail after an early national election, he said. Umno could not “dish out a greater disincentive” than post-election retaliation against Ismail to force the latter’s hand.
“Umno cannot attack its own prime minister without hurting itself,” he said. Zahid’s faction would be frustrated “but they really can’t do much”.
Wong also said those aligned to Ismail might be banking on Zahid being convicted for graft but the court verdict would not automatically strengthen Ismail’s position.
He said Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan would be automatically named acting president unless the Supreme Council agreed to hold elections, which would be unlikely, he said.
Earlier, Zahid said that Tajuddin was removed from the council as he was critical of the party. Zahid did not elaborate. Keterah Umno division chief Annuar Musa has since warned that more “enemies” of the party leadership would be sacked.
PETALING JAYA: The removal of Tajuddin Abdul Rahman from the Umno Supreme Council is likely to have strengthened the resolve of Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to delay calling for a general election, a political scientist said.
Wong Chin Huat said Tajuddin’s removal makes clear “who’s the boss” in Umno and Ismail might fear looking like a lame duck now if he agrees to hold the nationwide polls earlier.
“With the president controlling the candidate list in GE15, and Ismail’s loyalists likely to be replaced, he may lose his job after the elections, despite Umno’s promise to make him their poster boy.
“So why should Ismail call for an early election knowing he would likely lose his job even if Umno wins big?” Wong told FMT.
The Barisan Nasional tradition is for the Umno president to be nominated as prime minister. Ismail, however, is a vice-president.
The Umno faction aligned to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is currently pushing for GE15 to be held as soon as possible.
As to whether Umno could make life difficult for Ismail should he continue delaying the polls, Wong said that at worst, those aligned to Zahid can only ensure that Ismail is disowned in the party election, which will be held six months after GE15
This would be no different from dropping Ismail after an early national election, he said. Umno could not “dish out a greater disincentive” than post-election retaliation against Ismail to force the latter’s hand.
“Umno cannot attack its own prime minister without hurting itself,” he said. Zahid’s faction would be frustrated “but they really can’t do much”.
Wong also said those aligned to Ismail might be banking on Zahid being convicted for graft but the court verdict would not automatically strengthen Ismail’s position.
He said Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan would be automatically named acting president unless the Supreme Council agreed to hold elections, which would be unlikely, he said.
Earlier, Zahid said that Tajuddin was removed from the council as he was critical of the party. Zahid did not elaborate. Keterah Umno division chief Annuar Musa has since warned that more “enemies” of the party leadership would be sacked.
Ismail knows he is likely to be demoted or even pushed out to pasture if UMNO regains hegemony after GE15, with the Court Cluster back in the driving seat.
ReplyDeleteHence it is in Ismail's interest to build his Power Base while delaying GE15.