ISMAIL Sabri Yaakob’s apparent dithering over Zuraida Kamaruddin’s cabinet position is a sign of his authority and not weakness, analysts said.

It also showed the prime minister wants to make it a full term before calling for the next general election, which must be called late next year.

Zuraida defected from Bersatu to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) on May 26, prompting Bersatu to reclaim its ministerial quota. 

The Ampang MP expressed her willingness to give up the plantation industries and commodities portfolio after meeting the prime minister but both have yet to meet. 

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Dr Mazlan Ali said the prime minister could be considered weak if Zuraida threatened to withdraw her support should she be dropped from her post. However, there was no such threat, he said. 

“It is Ismail’s prerogative to decide who is in his cabinet. Bersatu must consult with the prime minister because Bersatu cannot force Ismail. That is his power. 

“But what we see is that the prime minister doesn’t want to entertain Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin because there is still no meeting with Zuraida,” he said. 

Last week, Muhyiddin said he had been waiting for “a long time” for an appointment with Ismail to discuss Zuraida’s position, who was appointed minister on Bersatu’s quota. 

“I think it’s been more than two weeks and I’ve been waiting too long. The matter should be decided immediately by the prime minister,” he said, as quoted by the media last Tuesday. 

Muhyiddin said Ismail could keep Zuraida in his cabinet but not by taking the Bersatu ministerial quota.

Mazlan reasoned that Ismail might not feel threatened or worried that the issue will affect his position as prime minister. 

“The MOU with the opposition made the government stable,” he said, referring to the Memorandum of Understanding on Transformation and Political Stability between the government and Pakatan Harapan. 

Last week, after Muhyiddin’s statement, Johor Umno deputy chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed described Ismail as “weak” because he was slow in deciding on Zuraida’s position. 

Nur Jazlan said Ismail could not make a decision or assert his authority because he was a “hostage to certain parties.”

Nur Jazlan’s statement was criticised by several Umno leaders, including ministers Annuar Musa and Khairy Jamaluddin, who said such criticism should not be made public. 

Several grassroots Umno leaders, including the youth wing, also defended Ismail, who is the party vice president. 

Another Umno vice-president Mahdzir Khalid meanwhile branded Jazlan’s statement as inappropriate when Umno was gathering strength towards GE15.

An eye on GE15

Meanwhile, Ilham Centre executive director Hisommudin Bakar said the delay to act against Zuraida has to do with the issue of the dissolution of Parliament, which Umno has been pushing for.

“If he were to reshuffle the cabinet and replace Zuraida, it would seem as though he is denying his party’s demands to hold the general election immediately,” he said.

Hisommudin added that if Ismail wanted to replace Zuraida, he would have already done so and would not allow the minister to attend any cabinet meeting. 

“The PM has his own prerogative and he takes into account the views of various parties. Maybe this is Ismail’s strategy as well,” he said. 

According to Hisommudin, Ismail’s delaying tactic is similar to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took his time in naming Najib Razak as his deputy.

Abdullah became prime minister on October 31, 2003, replacing Dr Mahathir Mohamad and only named Najib as deputy prime minister in early January 2004.

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia academic Azmil Tayeb said he does not see Zuraida’s political value for Ismail to continue keeping her in the cabinet. 

He said that PBM was not yet a threat to other traditional parties. 

“In our electoral history, small parties have almost never succeeded. In addition, Zuraida can only contest in opposition-dominated urban areas. 

“Her party’s chances of winning a seat is very slim,” he said. – June 27, 2022.