UMNO hosted its first buka puasa event since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic two years ago on Thursday, once again bringing life to the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.

Orphans were hosted, division leaders feted and supreme council members mingled again albeit behind masks.

Though there was no long-drawn speech, Umno’s short statement after its supreme council meet earlier caught the attention of everyone and filled the hall with excitement.

In the four-paragraph statement, Umno highlighted three vital points – of which one is for vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob to be its prime ministerial candidate in the 15th general election (GE15).

The party said it will hold an emergency general meeting for delegates to amend the party constitution just one week after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri holidays on May 14.

It also called on the government to not extend the memorandum of understanding with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

Of the three points, this was the one that caught the attention of everyone as it signals a political truce between Ismail Sabri and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

For only eight months earlier, the vice-president defied the president by leading 31 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs to support Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then head of government.

Is all well again?

So does this mean Umno is back together?

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali said it is a compromise and attempt to placate Ismail Sabri following Umno’s demands for an early GE15.

The political scientist said this is different than what was seen at the Umno General Assembly last month, when the prime minister focused on government matters than party problems.

“Ismail Sabri is appealing to the grassroots to support his administration. And as such, he makes it harder for Zahid to force him to dissolve Parliament for an early GE.”

To overcome this, the party president has to reunite his and Ismail Sabri’s factions before pushing for polls, he added.

“The announcement is geared towards this.”

But International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar said this is merely the start of Umno’s unity woes.

“It will be interesting to see what happens next if Zahid and deputy president Mohamad Hasan also win parliamentary seats in GE15,” said the political science lecturer.

“While Zahid ruled himself out of the reckoning for prime minister, Mohamad is still more senior than Ismail Sabri in the party.

“After what happened in the Johor polls, I think an early nomination like this has little bearing on the final selection.”

After the state elections, Machap assemblyman Onn Hafiz Ghazi was made menteri besar despite BN initially nominating incumbent Hasni Mohammad for the post.

What now, Perikatan?

But more interesting is what will happen to Ismail Sabri’s relationship with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Muhyiddin, said Mazlan.

“This will prompt the former prime minister to work harder to seek cooperation with other parties.

“As it is, Muhyiddin has already met Pejuang chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim. This new development, which sees Umno closing ranks, will force him to redouble his efforts, particularly with PH.”

He said this will work in Zahid’s favour as his faction wants an early GE anyway.

“It will benefit Zahid more if PN and Muhyiddin decide to withdraw support for Ismail Sabri. Because then, the prime minister will have no choice but to dissolve Parliament.” – April 16, 2022.