FMT:
Umno still a ‘Zahid-Najib’ show, say analysts
Jeniri Amir says appointment of trio to Supreme Council intended to strengthen Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s position and appease Najib Razak loyalists.
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) was Najib Razak’s deputy when he was Umno president. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Three appointments to Umno’s Supreme Council announced by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday signal an intention on the part of the party president to strengthen his position while appeasing his predecessor’s loyalists, an analyst said.
Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said this was evident from the appointment of Azalina Othman Said as the party’s information chief and Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as secretary-general.
“(During party elections last Saturday) the grassroots made it clear they do not want an all-Zahid lineup, (but Zahid) needs people close to him.
“So, to strengthen his position within the top leadership, he needs loyalists like Azalina and Asyraf in place,” he told FMT.
The appointment of former Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to the Supreme Council, is to consolidate support from loyalists of former prime minister Najib Razak, said Jeniri.
“It was a smart move to appease the Najib camp.
“With Najib’s people also in the current lineup, the party will remain a ‘Zahid-Najib’ show, just as former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said.”
Yesterday, Zahid announced the appointments of Azalina, Asyraf and Shahrizat to the party’s Supreme Council.
Asyraf also replaced Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan as the party’s secretary-general, while Azalina replaced Isham Jalil as information chief.
Significantly, the Umno president overlooked former prime minister and party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail has been critical of Zahid’s leadership in the past, said Jenari. His exclusion was tantamount to the party president “shutting the door” on his critics, he explained.
“Zahid does not want enemies within,” Jeniri said, warning those who have rallied behind Ismail that their prospects within the party were now bleak.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania agreed that the appointments clearly show collaboration between Zahid and Najib.
Ismail’s absence was unsurprising, he said, given that he was opposed to Umno working with Pakatan Harapan.
“Ismail defied Zahid and Najib’s wishes for early elections when he was the prime minister. They wanted the general election to be held not long after the Johor state elections when momentum was with the party.
“So, Khairy is right, it is a ‘Zahid and Najib’ show. Najib is still influential in Umno,” he told FMT.
Chin warned that Zahid and Najib could lose control of the party if Umno fares poorly in the coming state elections.
Grassroots may well push for a change in leadership to revive the party’s fortunes, he said.
PETALING JAYA: Three appointments to Umno’s Supreme Council announced by Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday signal an intention on the part of the party president to strengthen his position while appeasing his predecessor’s loyalists, an analyst said.
Council of Professors fellow Jeniri Amir said this was evident from the appointment of Azalina Othman Said as the party’s information chief and Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as secretary-general.
“(During party elections last Saturday) the grassroots made it clear they do not want an all-Zahid lineup, (but Zahid) needs people close to him.
“So, to strengthen his position within the top leadership, he needs loyalists like Azalina and Asyraf in place,” he told FMT.
The appointment of former Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to the Supreme Council, is to consolidate support from loyalists of former prime minister Najib Razak, said Jeniri.
“It was a smart move to appease the Najib camp.
“With Najib’s people also in the current lineup, the party will remain a ‘Zahid-Najib’ show, just as former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said.”
Yesterday, Zahid announced the appointments of Azalina, Asyraf and Shahrizat to the party’s Supreme Council.
Asyraf also replaced Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan as the party’s secretary-general, while Azalina replaced Isham Jalil as information chief.
Significantly, the Umno president overlooked former prime minister and party vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Ismail has been critical of Zahid’s leadership in the past, said Jenari. His exclusion was tantamount to the party president “shutting the door” on his critics, he explained.
“Zahid does not want enemies within,” Jeniri said, warning those who have rallied behind Ismail that their prospects within the party were now bleak.
James Chin of the University of Tasmania agreed that the appointments clearly show collaboration between Zahid and Najib.
Ismail’s absence was unsurprising, he said, given that he was opposed to Umno working with Pakatan Harapan.
“Ismail defied Zahid and Najib’s wishes for early elections when he was the prime minister. They wanted the general election to be held not long after the Johor state elections when momentum was with the party.
“So, Khairy is right, it is a ‘Zahid and Najib’ show. Najib is still influential in Umno,” he told FMT.
Chin warned that Zahid and Najib could lose control of the party if Umno fares poorly in the coming state elections.
Grassroots may well push for a change in leadership to revive the party’s fortunes, he said.
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