Low chances of winning might be why Ismail Sabri is not defending VP post - Analysts
SHAH ALAM - Slim chances of winning could be the reason why Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not contesting in the upcoming Umno election.
Political analyst Professor Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmood said the Umno vice-president could be feeling that he may not win the election as he was considered as one of the supporters of Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
"When Umno has chosen to be a part of the unity government, he was perhaps considered as being in the same camp with Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin and others who were in support of PN," he told Sinar Daily.
On whether Ismail Sabri has no confidence in Umno's leadership, Nik Ahmad Kamal said the former might view the party’s president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as a rival.
"As long as Zahid is concerned, I think from Ismail Sabri's perspective, Zahid is his rival.
"There is a tendency of majority of the Umno members supporting Zahid because of his capability to bring Umno into the government. So at this stage going head on against Zahid will not be a good idea at all," he explained.
Nik Ahmad Kamal also cited another possible reason behind Ismail Sabri's decision, saying that the latter probably felt like it was better for him to lay low for a moment and not participate in any elections, this year.
He said the Bera MP might be taking his time for a few years before making his next move.
This, he said was following the things that happened before the new government was formed and the many issues in Umno itself before the 15th General Election (GE15).
Echoing Nik Ahmad Kamal's view, political analyst Dr Oh Ei Sun said Ismail Sabri has no confidence at all on his own chances in the party polls.
"If he has the confidence of winning the party election then he would have participated.
"If you have no confidence in the party's leader and you are confident in yourself, then you mount some sort of coup against the leader," he said when contacted.
Oh added that it was illogical to argue that Ismail Sabri's decision could be related to the party's leadership.
On Sunday, the former prime minister confirmed that he will not be defending his Umno vice-president post in the party election.
Ismail Sabri was among three current vice-presidents, including former rural and regional development minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
On Monday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan expressed his appreciation to Ismail Sabri for his contributions and thanked him for his services as the Umno vice-president.
"I believe he (Ismail Sabri) made a big decision... maybe he made the decision to not contest for the post because he has already reached the pinnacle of his political career by becoming the Prime Minister.
"There is nothing higher than that post in the political stage," he said during a press conference at the Parliament lobby on Monday.
