Umno faction trying to smear, overthrow Zahid, says insider

Umno faction trying to smear, overthrow Zahid, says insider

PETALING JAYA: A senior Umno leader has alleged that recent efforts to sow discord between party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hasan, are part of a deliberate campaign to wrest control of the party.

Speaking to FMT on condition of anonymity, the Umno Supreme Council member said a group within the party was working to paint Zahid as weak and unfit to remain as president.

“This group is trying to split the party so they can later contest the posts of president and deputy president.

“Their aim is to build the narrative that Zahid is ineffective and unsuitable to lead the party,” said the leader.

On Sunday, at the Ledang Umno division meeting, Mohamad said certain quarters were trying to pit him against Zahid with the aim of weakening the party’s leadership.

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“Some people are trying to drive a wedge between the Umno president and me. I just smile because these people cannot be trusted, especially since they’ve also spoken badly about the president.

“I don’t even know what they might be saying behind my back,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

FMT is withholding the identity of the person named by the source as a leader in the group.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also believes there may be a coordinated effort from within Umno to unseat Zahid as party president.

“The easiest way to do that is by creating rumours – that Mohamad will challenge Zahid for the presidency, and that Zahid’s proxy will challenge Mohamad for the post of deputy president.

Azmi said the aim was to create the impression of internal conflict to weaken Zahid, even though he believes Zahid and Mohamad enjoy a good relationship.

“There is no indication that Mohamad wants to challenge Zahid, or vice versa. The rumours are not meant to tarnish Mohamad’s image, but rather to portray Zahid as someone who has lost control of the party.

“This is either the work of those in Umno who don’t like Zahid or political enemies from outside the party,” he said, adding that he believes it to be the latter.