BARISAN Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is the clear winner of the recent general election. After all, he played a vital role in ensuring Anwar Ibrahim and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are now in power.

The original PH campaign slogan of “a vote for BN is a vote for Zahid” became “a vote for PH is a vote for Zahid too”. 

PH had targeted the Umno president as BN’s weakest link, using him to deter electors from voting for other of the coalition’s candidates.

How things changed in the span of days.

PH did not only form a unity government with long-time nemesis BN, but Zahid has even landed himself a deputy prime minister’s post in Anwar’s new cabinet. 

BN suffered its worst-ever defeat in the 2022 general election, where the coalition only won 30 of the 178 parliamentary seats it contested.

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, former finance minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Johor Umno deputy chief Mohamad Nur Jazlan and BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir were among the big names who became casualties, largely because of the slogan’s resounding impact and the strong anti-Zahid sentiment on the ground. 

Even Zahid barely scraped through to victory against PH’s Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin at his own fortress in Bagan Datuk with a razor-thin majority of 348 votes. 

However, post-election, it was Zahid and BN who held the keys to the corridors of power in Putrajaya because neither PH nor Perikatan Nasional (PN) had enough numbers to form the government.

What enabled Anwar and PH pull through was Zahid’s long-time friendship with and loyalty to the PH chairman.

With BN backing Anwar, other parties such as Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah, Parti Warisan, Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat and the rest decided to follow suit.

The Zahid conundrum

Still, the question in the minds of many Malaysians is this: will Anwar reward Zahid for his loyalty, especially since the Umno president is standing trial for corruption and money laundering?

Prior to the national polls, it must be remembered that PH had been unrelenting in its stance of not wanting to work with individuals associated with corruption.

But this changed as soon as Anwar was sworn in as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister, after days of political impasse.

Perhaps realising the importance of having the beleaguered Zahid by his side, Anwar, in his first press conference, said “a person is innocent until proven guilty”.

Such was his reply when asked if individuals facing corruption charges would be included in his cabinet.

A few days before the unveiling of the cabinet, Anwar said he would consider the views of all parties on the possibility of appointing lawmakers facing graft charges. 

Speculation was already rife by then that chances were very high Zahid would be made deputy prime minister.

When the cabinet line-up was announced, Zahid was revealed to have been given an added portfolio – the Rural and Regional Development Ministry. 

This is a huge responsibility, especially when both PH and BN are trying to win back the support of the rural voters who had gravitated to PN in this election.

Bigger questions also arise with Anwar giving Zahid such key positions in his cabinet. Why the special privilege reserved just for him?

What about PH leaders also facing criminal cases but have been excluded from the cabinet?

DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng and Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman who stood under the PH banner and retained their seats despite undergoing trials, had not been included in Anwar’s cabinet.

One thing is clear. Anwar needs Zahid’s support for his government to remain in power. Perhaps this was the PM’s way of rewarding Zahid.

Where do we go from here? What are the chances the DPM’s charges will be dismissed?

Until then, what is clear is that despite all of PH’s targeted attacks against Zahid during the polls, it is the Umno warlord who has emerged the real winner. – December 4, 2022.