Umno leadership pro-Zahid, but party still split, says source

The Umno Supreme Council member, however, says the president’s move to solidify his leadership augurs well for the unity government.

(FMT) –  Umno is still divided although the new leadership is aligned to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a Supreme Council member said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Umno official said it was no secret the top leadership comprised “Zahid’s people”.

However, two camps remained within the party, the source said, one that was pro-Zahid and the other that was against the president.

The second camp felt that Zahid should have stepped down following Barisan Nasional and Umno’s disastrous outing in the last general election.

The Supreme Council member said Zahid’s move to surround himself with those aligned to him solidified his position as the president.

“And this is a bonus for the unity government as it will remain intact. If Zahid’s position is threatened, there’s a likelihood of the government collapsing.”

Zahid is a deputy prime minister.

A divisional leader, meanwhile, denied that the current line-up was a “Zahid and Najib” show. Najib Razak, the former prime minister, was succeeded by Zahid after BN was toppled in the 14th general election.

The leader said Umno did not belong to any individual or family. “We want the party to continue to remain relevant and be the first choice of Malaysians,” he said .

On Tuesday, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Najib “wasn’t finished” in Umno. He said the party’s new Supreme Council line-up consisted of numerous “hardcore supporters” of the jailed former Umno president.

Although Zahid remained in control of Umno, Khairy said, Najib still played a key role in determining the party’s future.

Khairy named Kelantan Umno chief Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, former Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim and Lokman Noor Adam as among those in the newly elected 25-member Supreme Council who are strong supporters of Najib.