Open top Umno posts to competition, analysts say

Analysts have criticised the suggestion for the posts of president and deputy president to go uncontested at the Umno elections to come, following Barisan Nasional's (BN) move to join hands with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the coalition government led by Anwar Ibrahim. 

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Azizi Safar said the support of Umno division leaders for the current president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, would be a decisive factor. 

"Following the government's decision to discontinue political appointments for positions in government agencies, statutory bodies and government-related companies, only a few division leaders will reap the rewards of the spoils of war from the general election," he said. 

"Can Zahid still 'buy' the support of division chiefs by offering them positions?"

Zahid had previously announced the reappointment of Machang Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub as Felcra chairman. 

However, the reappointment was subsequently postponed by the prime minister. 

Azizi, a former executive secretary for Penang BN, said this had come as a blow to Umno. 

Umno, which recently amended its constitution, must hold its party polls within six months of the general election. 

Zahid became president at the 2018 election, defeating contenders Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the top post. 

Mohamad Hasan meanwhile became deputy president, defeating Annuar Musa. 

Most recently, Johor Umno deputy chairman Nur Jazlan Mohamed said there was no need to contest the top two positions, to prevent splits within the party. 

The names bandied about as contenders for the presidency include former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein. 

The practice of not contesting the Umno presidency began during the era of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, after the party was banned and then re-registered.

The top two posts went uncontested until Anwar ran against Ghabar Baba, becoming the deputy president. 

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Umno's history showed that it could be expected to split in the event of a contest at the highest level. 

"Right now, the party has set a requirement for enough nominations to run for the highest office," he said.  

"It's difficult for anyone to challenge the president and his deputy. This might be one of Umno's ways of avoiding division." 

He also referred to the experience of PAS, which split after its elections in 2015 with several leaders leaving the Islamist party to form Amanah. 

Azizi meanwhile said that the government led by Anwar, which has the support of 148 MPs, would remain intact even if a shake-up occurred in the Umno leadership.

"A number of Umno MPs will continue to support Anwar as prime minister," he said. 

"The loyalty and support of his student and friends will not change," he added, referring to an exchange in an audio clip of a conversation between Anwar and Zahid after the Umno general assembly in 2021. 

BN performed poorly at the November 2022 general election, winning just 30 seats in a historic low. 

It later joined hands with PH to form a coalition government despite its long-held mantra of "No DAP, no Anwar", as well as objections from a number of top leaders. 

Azizi said opening the top two posts to competition could put an end to the question of their legitimacy and Umno's support for Anwar. 

"The competition for office would become a referendum for the support of the grassroots," he added.