IT is Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s prerogative to make Supreme Council appointments, said Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“It is provided for by the party constitution. If the constitution says 10 (members), he can appoint 10. It’s his prerogative. I don’t know his criteria, but it’s his prerogative,” the vice-president told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Zahid yesterday appointed four Umno division chiefs and a division vice-chief to the Supreme Council, prompting talk that he is shoring up support in the party by appointing loyalists.

The division chiefs are Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Batu Pahat), Johan Abd Aziz (Hulu Langat), Shaik Hussein Mydin (Bagan) and Yaakub Khan (Sepanggar), while the vice-chief is Mohd Razlan Muhammad Rafii (Seputeh).

The five replace Kimanis MP Anifah Aman, Beaufort MP Azizah Mohd Dun, Sulaman assemblyman Hajiji Noor, former Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia and former communications and multimedia minister Salleh Said Keruak.

Ismail Sabri, who is also opposition leader, dismissed suggestions that Zahid’s return to his duties as president after a six-month leave will split Umno.

“His return will not split the party as he’s the president. His going on leave doesn’t change the fact that he’s the elected president. He’s never stopped being president.”

He admitted that there had been disagreements in the party about Zahid’s return, but stressed that the majority wanted him back.

“There will always be unhappy people… What is important is that the majority has accepted it.”

It is key for Umno to unite for the good of the people rather than continue its infighting, he said.

“This is the best time for us to unite as there are problems in other parties, as seen in the split within PKR.

“Everything was already decided in the last party elections. If people are unhappy, there’s always the polls in the next three years.”

On Mohamad Hasan, Ismail Sabri said the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar will return to his duties as Umno deputy president.

“Tok Mat will continue as deputy president. Before Zahid’s return, he was acting president, and I was acting deputy. Everything will be back to normal now.” – July 3, 2019.