Even with pledge to reopen Parliament, Umno's ultimatum gambit still in play

 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been quietly consolidating support from the party's supreme council to prepare for the party's eventual withdrawal of support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, several sources told Malaysiakini.

Party insiders said that Zahid had succeeded in convincing the clear majority of the party's 56 supreme council members - the party's executive body - that a divorce from the ruling coalition was necessary if their ultimatum to the PN government was ignored.

Zahid, according to insiders, had even secured written commitments from the supporting supreme council members and the process of obtaining similar commitments from MPs were ongoing.

This move was believed to be a bid to put pressure on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. On June 21, the Umno supreme council had given Muhyiddin 14 days to call for the reconvening of Parliament.

According to sources, Zahid had convinced most of the supreme council members that the party was bound by their own constitution to back the royal institution and must thus push the government to fulfil the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's wish to see Parliament reconvene "as soon as possible".

Bound by party constitution

Several supreme council members contacted by Malaysiakini confirmed that they have met Zahid recently, but could not confirm if they were compelled to sign the documents.

"Discussions involved the party's 14-day ultimatum. We need to put pressure on the government because they cannot ignore the Agong's decree to reopen Parliament," said one supreme council member, who requested anonymity.

Should Umno not act, explained another Umno supreme council member, the party would be publicly seen as complicit in an act of "biadap" (insolence) against the Agong.

Last month, the king decreed twice, in a span of as many weeks, that Parliament should reconvene "as soon as possible", specifically to debate the proclamation of emergency and emergency laws.

Today, Putrajaya finally buckled, pledging that Parliament will reconvene before Aug 1, but a date would only be decided when cabinet meets next Wednesday (July 7).

Sources said this announcement was unlikely to derail the Umno supreme council and Zahid's plans to act on the ultimatum.

"We look at it as an attempt by Muhyiddin to buy time," said a party insider, who is close to Zahid. 

"Why July 7? That is beyond our 14-day ultimatum."

Zahid consolidating power

Meanwhile, multiple sources have confirmed that Zahid has won a major vote of confidence within the supreme council recently.

On June 29, the supreme council had resolved to postpone the Umno elections for 18 months. This means that Zahid's tenure as president will be extended until 2023.

According to multiple sources, the vote was 52 in favour of postponement, two against and two abstentions.

There are 33 supreme council members who were elected during the 2018 leadership polls and another 23 who were appointed.

Leading up to the March party annual delegates assembly, there were numerous reports that the party's supreme council was fractious, with Zahid's camp wanting to break ties with PN and another camp against the move.

A party insider close to Zahid said that Umno MPs or cabinet ministers who refuse to toe the party line next week will likely have their memberships revoked.

"They can follow the party, or be dismissed.

"If they choose the latter, then next election they can contest under the PN banner. No problem," said the source. - Mkini