Zahid rewarding party polls losers with positions to strengthen his own position

SHAH ALAM - Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s way of rewarding losing candidates in the party elections with positions could be aimed at strengthening his position within the party.

Political analysts believe that it is a common tactic used by political leaders to maintain and stabilise their power.

Dr Oh Ei Sun from Singapore Institute of International Affairs said the whole point of Zahid’s action was to have control over the party.

“For politicians, control over the party is of paramount importance, certainly much more so than the strength of the party.

“Those who lost could be interpreted as not having successfully deployed party campaign methods. But what counts is their support for the party president,” he said.

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara political analyst Dr Abdul Aziz Azizam said the approach taken by Zahid was a good move to reduce internal contestation among leaders.

“It was always good for friends or colleagues by offering positions in the party and working together instead of being enemies, destroying each other.

“And Zahid should understand this concept from the beginning since he’s the senior in politics,” he said.

Dr Abdul Aziz further suggested that Zahid should allow the top two positions in Umno to be contested during Umno polls instead of suspending and dismissing members who were thought to be threats in the party.

Thus, he said Zahid, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister, shouldn’t be scared of losing in the party elections as there would always be space for those who lose in the party election.

Previously, the media reported Zahid’s decision to appoint those who lost in Umno’s election to certain positions as an effort to strengthen the party. He told the media this after attending his ministry’s Ramadan event at Masjid Batu 8, Gombak North, on March 24.