UMNO’S decision to purge the party of dissenters will probably not backfire or affect them in the upcoming state elections, political pundits said.

They claimed the disciplinary action against members “cleansed” the party of a possible internal sabotage and that Umno could probably rise to be the champion of Malays once again.

According to Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Umno might face an upset only if they decide to go solo in the state elections.

He, however, said that the party could fix the shortcomings by forming a collaboration with Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“If Umno decides to contest without political cooperation, by going solo, this may affect them. But the party can overcome these issues by building a strategic cooperation with PH.

“Existing Malay support and support from PH, including non-Malay votes, may minimise the impact of the cleanse on Umno in the upcoming state elections,” the senior lecturer told The Malaysian Insight.  

On Friday night, Umno sacked Khairy Jamaluddin and Noh Omar – both veteran leaders – for allegedly working against the interests of the party.  

At the same time, Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and incumbent deputy Umno Youth chief Shahril Hamdan were suspended for six years. 

Also suspended were former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff and former Tiram assemblyman Maulizan Bujang. 

Besides Khairy and Noh, 42 other party members were also expelled – nine from the Putrajaya division, five from the Pasir Gudang division, two from the Tanjung Karang division, and 26 from Pahang. 

International Islamic University of Malaysia’s Tunku Mohar Tunku Mohd Mokhtar, meanwhile, said that the sacking and suspension of Umno members would not adversely affect the already frail party. 

He said the focus during the state elections would be on the much-touted possible collaboration between PH and Barisan Nasional. 

“It probably won’t have that much of an impact. Umno is weakening,” the political science assistant professor said.  

“The next state elections is about getting its supporters to accept the new BN-PH alignment.  

“It’s unclear what the sacked members will do but if they campaign against Umno, they could be supported by the opposition parties.  

“That said, with Umno’s support steadily declining, they won’t offer much to other parties as well,” he added.  

Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said Umno’s “progressive” supporters would want the best for the party and hence will continue to back them.  

“Umno’s progressive supporters would continue to support them due to its association with PH.  

“However, the race nowadays is to woo voters preferring a more regressive and religious outlook for the country,” he said.  

BN won 30 parliamentary seats in the November 19 polls, forming a unity government with PH. 

However, BN did not win a single parliamentary seat in seven states – Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, Malacca, Selangor, Penang and Perlis.  

Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu decided not to dissolve their assemblies in conjunction with the general election last November.   

However, they will need to call elections by September.   

Only Pahang, Perak and Perlis went to the polls two months ago to elect state governments. Sabah, Malacca, Johor, and Sarawak had held state polls within a year prior to the general election.  

Zahid consolidates power

Oh said that suspending and sacking of several members at odds with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would further strengthen his power and position in Umno.  

“The mainstream faction of Umno, led by Zahid, would certainly be better off as it would consolidate his hold on power,” Oh said.  

Tunku Mohar also mirrored Oh’s opinion, saying the purging of dissenters in Umno would benefit Zahid more than the party. 

He said Zahid and those associated with him will have less “headache” without the rebellious members.  

“Zahid and his allies, not Umno, will be better off without them,” he said.  

Zahid was appointed deputy prime minister in the Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government.

He was also given the rural and regional development portfolio.  

James Chin, a professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania, meanwhile said that Zahid’s challenge is to perform now and unite the voters and grassroots members. 

“It is a question of whether Umno under Zahid can re-unite all the Malays other than those who are against him.  

“If not, this would further split the Umno votes,” he said. 

Mazlan, however, said while Umno would appear to be in turmoil now due to the purge and internal crisis, it will bounce back and be the champions of Malays once again.  

“In the near future, Umno will get back on track as a party that represents the majority of Malays,” he said. – January 29, 2023.