DEFENCE Minister Hishammuddin Hussein’s additional post as special functions minister is more about the next Umno elections and future government succession rather than any extra duties, party insiders said.

The Malaysian Insight understands that Hishammuddin’s extra role announced yesterday will boost his chances to take pole position in the Umno vice-presidential contest in the party polls next year.

“Umno is a funny animal. By virtue of holding two portfolios, the ants will come to find the sugar,” one party insider told The Malaysian Insight.

Prime Minister Najib Razak announced Hishammuddin’s extra portfolio in a press statement yesterday, sparking speculation about the defence minister’s role vis-a-vis deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

It is learnt that Najib had consulted Zahid over the job for a while now and finally made the decision this week. Hishammuddin joins nine other ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department as special functions minister. 

“Look, Najib is planning for the future. His announcement clarifies succession in the government, that Zahid and Hisham will move up in tandem,” another insider said.

Hishammuddin, who is Najib’s first cousin, came in last among the three vice-presidents in the Umno elections in October 2013, narrowly beating Mukhriz Mahathir by nine votes.

His poor performance in that Umno elections, which were delayed from 2012, came in spite of tacit support from the top party leadership and his stature as a former Umno Youth leader and the eldest son of former party president and prime minister, the late Hussein Onn.

The other two vice-presidents ahead of him were Zahid and Shafie Apdal, who was sacked from the party in 2015.

Hishammuddin has regained his popularity in the party, particularly from his fine performance in handling the MH370 flight disappearance aftermath and working on closer ties with Saudi Arabia but has been facing the prospect of a tough fight in the next vice-presidential race.

The field for the Umno vice-presidential race include Education Minister Mahadzir Khalid, Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

All three are popular with the Umno grassroots and helm ministries which have the most contact with party members. Hishammuddin’s Defence Ministry has not helped much politically, a party aide admitted.

“He is facing three popular politicians and this new job is a leg-up for him and gives him pole position in the party polls,” the aide added.

“Also, he does a lot of cross-ministry work and this sets it in stone, giving him the seniority to carry out more duties as directed by the prime minister,” the aide said.

He said Hishammuddin’s close ties with several Middle East leaders, particularly Saudi Arabia, would require him to move up from just being the defence minister.

“The foreign minister has a lot of work. Hishammuddin can help out officially now in some regions that Malaysia is getting closer to. That is the duty of a special functions minister.”

Malaysia’s previous prime ministers have appointed special functions ministers in the past but all those appointments were for politicians without any other portfolios.

Among them were Ghazali Shafie (1970-1972), Mohd Asri Muda (1973-1976), Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen Ismail (1973-1976) and Daim Zainuddin (1999-2001). – April 13, 2017.