Malaysia’s Umno drops PM Ismail Sabri’s allies ahead of November 19 polls as power struggle intensifies
- Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi left out eight ministers and deputy ministers from the candidate list of the Barisan Nasional coalition
- The removal of Ismail’s allies is the latest in an increasingly strained relationship between the PM and the Umno leader, who also heads the coalition
Zahid said late on Tuesday that the coalition list was a combination of fresh faces and experience. “Most of all, they represent values such as loyalty and service to voters,” he said.
The leader’s decision to drop senior members from the election race was met with dismay by some of the party rank and file. One of the lawmakers left out of the list, Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim, urged Zahid to step down as party chief and for Ismail to take over, Utusan newspaper reported.
That may not be the case now with several of Ismail’s allies out of the picture and Zahid seeking to use the elections to consolidate power in Umno, said Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar, a political science lecturer at the International Islamic University of Malaysia.
“The sudden replacements suggest that Ismail’s position as PM-designate is at risk,” said Tunku Mohar. “After the elections, Zahid may renege on his promise and nominate himself or a trusted ally as the prime minister.”
Zahid denied a news report that Umno candidates selected to run in the elections had also been asked to sign letters of support to back him as the next prime minister.