Sacked Umno pair lost their shine long ago, says analyst

They no longer hold any high positions and sacking them from Umno will not be a game-changer for Pakatan Harapan, says political analyst.

(FMT) – A political analyst sees little prospect of Umno’s expulsion of Daim Zainuddin and Rafidah Aziz being a game changer in the election campaign.

Political analyst Kamarul Zaman Yusoff of Universiti Utara Malaysia said he doubted that the expulsion would improve voter sentiments for Pakatan Harapan.

Daim and Rafidah were expelled under the party’s constitution for supporting Pakatan Harapan and appearing at its ceramahs.

Another Umno veteran, Rais Yatim, is reported to be under investigation by the party after earlier reports said he had also been expelled.

Kamarul told FMT the expulsion of Daim and Rafidah was unlikely to significantly increase votes for PH.

“They held high positions, thanks to Dr Mahathir Mohamad but their glory days have passed and they no longer hold any high positions in Umno; so firing them will not change the game.”

Any impact the action would have would be felt only among the educated and urban classes, he said.

“But they already support PH,” he added.

“PH’s main challenge is to win the support of those living in rural areas, especially the rural Malays who are more easily influenced by religious and conservative figures.”

Former minister Zainuddin Maidin said Daim, Rafidah and Rais had made their move at a critical time for Umno. “They say and do things that would increase Malay sympathy towards Pakatan Harapan,” he told FMT.

He said it had always been possible for Umno to replace leaders when the Malay community didn’t like them. However, he added, Umno today faced a situation where Malays not only didn’t like the leader but also also didn’t like the party.

“Although many did not like Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, because he appeared to be too easy with the Chinese, the Malays still believed in Umno and felt Tunku could be replaced by someone more capable”, he said.

“Look at Umno today. There doesn’t seem to be anyone to replace the leader.”