The Malaysian Insight

ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob’s first task will be how to juggle between the demands and interests of the parties that supported him, analysts said.

“For instance, the question of who he will appoint as deputy prime minister,” said Universiti Utara Malaysia’s Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff.

“Logic dictates that it must come from Bersatu as it had previously held the prime minister’s post.

“But even from Bersatu, Ismail will have to choose from three competing factions, that is original Bersatu, former Umno and former PKR leaders who all have legitimate claims.”

Kamarul was commenting on Ismail’s immediate political challenges after Istana Negara announced that the Umno vice president will be sworn in as the new prime minister today.

Reports have stated that Bersatu leaders Hamzah Zainudin, Mohamed Azmin Ali, Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and Ahmad Faizal Azumu are vying for the deputy prime minister’s post.

Former minister Redzuan and former Perak menteri besar Faizal are two of the original Bersatu MPs while former home minister Hamzah is from Umno. Prior to joining Bersatu, Azmin was the PKR deputy president.

Ismail was picked as the new prime minister after 15 Umno MPs withdrew their support for former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, causing his administration to collapse.

Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, PAS and Umno threw their support behind Ismail, giving him 114 votes in the 222-MP Dewan Rakyat.

But Kamarul believes Ismail has other options if he wants to strengthen his hand.

The UUM political science lecturer said Ismail could reach out to Pejuang, Warisan and other opposition parties to strengthen his support.

“If Warisan were to support him, he may have to appoint (Warisan president) Mohd Shafie Apdal as his deputy. But will Bersatu, which has 54 MPs, agree to this?” asked Kamarul.

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Dr Lau Zhe Wei also believes that Ismail should appoint a Bersatu MP as his deputy.

But again, he said Ismail’s task was unenviable as both Hamzah and Azmin, for example, are unpopular.

“More than that, Ismail also has to think of other unpopular ministers such as Dr Adham Baba and Rina Harun. Can he start his administration with a negatively rated cabinet?” asked Lau.

Lau said Ismail can overcome the negative perception behind his appointment if he appoints the right people.

“After the ‘Sheraton move’, Muhyiddin had similarly faced negative reactions. But when his government managed the Covid-19 pandemic well with the first movement-control order, public opinion for Muhyiddin improved.

“If not for the Sabah elections, Muhyiddin’s popularity would not have fallen and the Covid-19 pandemic would not have gotten worse.

“So, it is not impossible that the Ismail government, although rejected by people through political discourse, can gain the cooperation of people in the name of pandemic management,” said the political science lecturer.

Umno

More than managing Bersatu, Kamarul believes that Ismail’s bigger challenge is how to keep the 15 Umno MPs, who rejected Muhyiddin, happy.

“Will they continue to back Ismail, if he stays true to PN’s conditions?”

On Thursday, Muhyiddin said PN was supporting Ismail on the condition he will not appoint “court cluster” MPs into the cabinet or interfere with their court cases.

Muhyiddin has used the “court cluster” to describe Umno president Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former president Najib Razak. Both Umno leaders are facing trials for corruption while Najib is now appealing a conviction for receiving money from a 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary.

Lau, however, said that Ismail would not need to worry too much about Umno.

“He is the Umno prime minister after all. Furthermore, the current number of Umno and Bersatu MPs justifies a Bersatu deputy prime minister

“But Ismail can form a more-than-one second tier leadership (such as senior ministers during Muhyiddin’s time). And he has to include positions for Bersatu.

“Otherwise, I cannot imagine how Bersatu can lend Ismail their numbers,” said Lau. – August 21, 2021.