SHAH ALAM - Political experts say Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi may now have the veto power to select potential candidates for the coming general elections but may likely be "thrown out" if he were to contest during the Umno elections.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Director Institute of Ethnic Studies Professor Datuk Shamsul Amri Baharuddin said Zahid is likely to survive unless his court case is cleared or before the Umno elections.
"If not, he has to step down. I think he may be thrown out during the Umno elections if he decides to contest,” he told Sinar Daily.
The reason being some may be unhappy with his "tricks and behaviour" or unhappy with him for not selecting them has candidates during the 15th general elections (GE15).
Zahid is facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering in relation to Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds.
On May 15, Umno amended its constitution to allow party elections to be held six months after GE15, a move to ensure party members remain united.
However, Shamsul said disagreements are likely to continue has members eye for different seats at the state and parliamentary level.
Political analyst Oh Ei Sun said Zahid will have the advantage to nominate candidates for the coming general elections most of whom are likely to win and remain loyal to Zahid, and possibly threaten Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s position, who is third in line in Umno.
"This means Ismail Sabri’s position as prime minister after the general election would be questionable if he does not fall into line and obediently follow Umno's mainstream.
"It would of course also be difficult for him to challenge Zahid for the party presidency,” he said told Sinar Daily.
Political Analyst Prof Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid is of the same view, stating Zahid and his team would not need to worry over being ousted from the top of Umno's hierarchy prior to GE15.
"He will have the freedom to decide on Umno's choice of election candidates, and this includes Ismail Sabri,” he said.
Oh added now that Zahid's position is secured after Umno's constitutional amendment to only hold elections 6 months after general elections, Zahid may buy time rather than asking Ismail Sabri to call for the dissolution of Parliament immediately upon expiry of the MOU with PH at the end of July.
"Zahid's hands have been considerably strengthened as far as the date of GE15 is concerned. Most probably now he'll lean towards sometime towards the end of the year (try to push the election date to the end of the year),” he added.