GE15: Zahid as PM may not benefit Umno

SHAH ALAM - It will not be wise for Umno to use the 15th General Election (GE15) as its strategy to make its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi the Prime Minister because it will be disadvantageous to Umno.

This, political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan said was due to the fact that Zahid was facing corruption charges in court among others.

Besides that, he said caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was still Umno’s Prime Minister of choice and it will be seen as going against their word if they had chosen Zahid over Ismail Sabri.

“I believe that Ismail Sabri is their choice for the Prime Minister post if they came to power.

"Zahid would be disadvantageous for Umno not just because of his court cases, but because it would look bad on Umno if they were to go back against their words after portraying Ismail Sabri as their choice.

“It wouldn't be good in the perception (of the people) if they discard Ismail Sabri,” he said.

He also said within the Umno hierarchy, there were other more suitable candidates.

As for Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political expert, Dr Sivamurugan Pandian, he was unsure if Umno would use GE15 to make Zahid the Prime Minister.

He said according to official statements released by the Umno supreme council, Ismail Sabri would still be their poster boy for GE15.

He also said he did not know whether Zahid will be contesting in GE15 or not.