Khaled, Zambry, Azalina potential Umno vice president winners?

SHAH ALAM - A tough fight is expected for the Umno vice-presidents seat as heavyweights offer to contest after 2022 Umno General Assembly decided to leave the top two posts uncontested.

The decision assures Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi retaining his president seat while Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan retaining his Umno Deputy President post.

The focus is now on the vice president's post between incumbents Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, with some new faces.

Although Ismail Sabri is a former prime minister, he may not have an easy path as the Bera MP does not hold any position in the current Cabinet led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

So it is not surprising if Ismail Sabri openly states that he is ready to give way to a new face to hold the position of vice president if there is an individual more relevant and capable of restoring Umno's image in the eyes of the public.

Among other names interested in grabbing the vice president's post are Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

Political analyst from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia Dr Mazlan Ali said although there are 10 individuals keen in the seat, the fierce challenge is expected to be within five heavyweight leaders - Ismail Sabri, Khaled, Mahdzir, Zamry, and Azalina.

However, with the latest development in the country's politics, Mazlan said Ismail Sabri's position may be compromised.

Mazlan sees Ismail Sabri in a difficult spot to defend vice president as he is labelled as belonging to a group that is not aligned with the Umno President.

"I see that Khaled will not face a big problem in defending the vice president's seat because he is seen as one of the leaders who are in the same boat or in the same direction as Zahid.

"Mahdzir's fate is also uncertain after he failed to defend the Padang Terap parliamentary seat in the last 15th General Election (GE15) and does not hold any position in the current coalition government. Besides his position is unclear whether he is still with the president's camp or not," he told Sinar.

Mazlan also said that he saw Zambry and Azalina's chances of winning the vice-presidential seat as being better because they were party strongmen and supported Zahid in good and bad times.

"There are chances of Hasni, who is a former Johor Menteri Besar, being labelled a traitor in Umno.

"Although Asyraf Wajdi is considered a staunch supporter of Zahid, personally he is still unable to compete with the aura and influence of old men in Umno such as Khaled, Azalina, and Zambry.

"I predict that the Umno President's strongman imay continue to dominate the Umno supreme members council and Umno vice president seats in the party election that will take place on March 18," he said.