The Malaysian Insight

PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has his eyes set on the Umno presidency, dispensing ministerial appointments to party lawmakers not loyal to incumbent Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, analysts said.

They told The Malaysian Insight the appointments will ensure that the MPs’ loyalty lies with Ismail Sabri when the party elections are held.

By appointing them, he has set the stage for the party polls and put himself in pole position in the next contest for the position of party chief, the analysts said.

They noted he will also, by virtue of being prime minister, set Umno’s course when the 15th General Election is held.

Universiti Malaya political analyst Awang Azman Awang Pawi said Ismail Sabri’s game plan is obvious as all roads lead to the party elections that will be held at some point in the year.

“Actually, there are two political games being played here, one for the upcoming party election and the long game for GE15,” he said.

“Ismail Sabri’s strategy is to ensure Zahid no longer remains influential, so that he can take over the party.”

Awang said in the coming days there will be calls for Umno to hold its election before the general election takes place, unlike in GE14.

“This will cause a splinter in Umno. Ismail Sabri’s faction will want the party elections to be held soon for fear that their position will be threatened.

“If Zahid remains president, there is a chance that Ismail Sabri’s group will not be chosen as candidates for GE15.”

Although the Umno Supreme Council had postponed party elections due to the Covid-19 crisis, the Registrar of Societies ruled the decision invalid and that polls must proceed.

Of the 14 Umno members loyal to Zahid who withdrew support for Muhyiddin Yassin, only Tanjung Karang MP Noh Omar and Mohamad Alamin were included in the new cabinet.

Noh is to be entrepreneur and co-operatives development minister, while Mohamad Alamin is the deputy education minister II.

Ismail Sabri also promoted those who did not see eye-to-eye with the Umno president, such as Shahidan Kassim, the new Federal Territories minister.

Annuar Musa – another Umno cabinet member loyal to Muhyiddin and who openly disagreed with Zahid – has been retained and moved to head the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

Ismail Sabri brought back Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad, who quit the cabinet as the higher education minister.

However, there was no room for Lenggong MP Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, who threw in the towel as the energy and natural resources minister.

Though Noraini is viewed as a Zahid ally, the wanita chief heads a crucial bloc in the party ballot and Ismail Sabri is seen as savvy in bringing her back, but the same could not be said for Shamsul whose writ runs within his division.

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Dr Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar echoed Awang’s analysis that a fracture will form within Umno if Ismail Sabri decides to contest for the top post.

“If the general elections are to be held before the party’s elections, this would create divisions within the party, especially if the president decides to nominate his loyalists in the general elections,” he said.

Tunku Mohar added that Ismail Sabri’s eye for the top post in Umno could also be the reason why Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan was not included in the new cabinet.

“We can speculate that Mohamad Hassan could pose a challenge to Ismail Sabri if the latter wants to contest. 

“Furthermore, he seems to be loyal to the party president and his omission could give Ismail Sabri greater room to build his support base within Umno.” 

Azmin Tayeb of University Sains Malaysia also agreed that Ismail Sabri’s selection of ministers is a ploy to gain support and weaken Zahid’s influence.

“Umno practises a patronage system. It will be much easier for Ismail Sabri to move forward if he can control the party,” he said.

He added that this move could potentially strengthen Umno’s position in GE15, including the possibility of new political developments.

“The question remains if Bersatu lawmakers will rejoin Umno or go out on their own, leading to a three-cornered fight, which will benefit Umno.

“It is very likely that Bersatu will be dissolved after GE15, like Semangat 46.”

Meanwhile, political scientist Wong Chin Huat said the 15 who backed Ismail Sabri to become prime minister are the obvious losers as only two were given posts.

“Shamsul, who fired the first shot in resigning, is left out of the cabinet. Mohamad Hassan is not given a minister’s job by way of senatorial appointment. 

“The able and popular ex-Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said is likewise side-lined. Only Noraini and Noh are included.

“Meanwhile, two Muhyiddin loyalists are rewarded, Annuar is given the strategic portfolio of communications and Shahidan is made minister of Federal Territories.” – August 28, 2021.