Hishammuddin trapped? Toe the line or lose MP post - analysts
SYDI ALIF29 Jan 2023 07:33pm
Hishammuddin Hussein - FILE PIX
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According to Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Prof Dr Azmi Hassan, Hishammuddin hardly has any options but to remain with Umno as he may lose his seat in the next elections if he dares to switch to other political parties.
"In my opinion his hands are totally tied, if he wants to fight against the leadership or change the party he needs to just lay low and wait out his suspension.
"This is important as in Umno's election, there are bound to be two factions, one will be pro-president and one will be anti president
"The problem for the anti-president group is that most of their leaders have had their hands tied up recently. That's why even though Hishammuddin was suspended, he needs to show that he is still capable of leading those against the current leadership," Dr Azmi elaborated.
On the recent purge of well known Umno leaders from the party, Azmi said the effect of the move will only be known after the party's elections.
"We will only know whether the purge has worked against or for the party during the elections as the grassroots vote for their new leaders to fill in the important positions at the branch and division levels," he told Sinar Daily.
Meanwhile, Merdeka Centre for Opinion Research programme director Ibrahim Suffian was of the opinion that the recent purge by Umno was done as a way to 'cleanse' the party before its upcoming elections.
"It was already said during the general assembly that the top leadership's goal was to stabilise the party, especially now since the party is part of the unity government," he said.
Commenting on Hishammuddin's suspension, Ibrahim said he was only suspended because if the MP was dropped by the party, he could possibly join another party which would threaten Umno's power in Parliament.
"Since he was only suspended, he seat would still remain within Umno's box, unlike Noh Omar or Khairy who have no positions within the party and in parliament, he's ( Hishammuddin) predicament is not as clear cut," Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim added that if there were grassroots members who were dissatisfied with the move made by the top leadership, they might make their feelings known in the party polls.
"I think that most had wanted to see Umno being rejuvenated and cleansed from a problematic leadership.
"I think among those who were seen as being able to bring that new wave of leadership were Hishammuddin and Khairy Jamaluddin. So in their absence in the competition, there is no other option which I think will disappoint some of the grassroot members." he said
Ibrahim said that a party's renewal process usually begins with change in its leadership, yet now the party is unable to do that.
"It seems that the party is stuck in terms of reviving itself and re-expanding its influence, the concern is if there is no change in leadership within the next few years, the real worry among the grassroot members is that the party is going to keep losing the trust of Malay voters.
"In the future, specifically considering the state elections and the next general election, Umno's prospect is a huge question mark," he elaborated.
