Bid to clear Zahid's allies from Umno amid concerns of PKR ties

Among the reasons Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was forced to go on leave were concerns about his ties to PKR, according to a senior Umno source.

The source added that this same concern is prompting efforts to push out Zahid's remaining allies within Umno.

"This movement not only wants to oust Zahid, but also other officers whom he had appointed within the party.

"Today, some of Zahid's officers are still seen to be controlling the party, and this has caused unease," the source told Malaysiakini.

The source claimed the person spearheading the movement against Zahid is a current Umno vice-president.

In December, Zahid had announced that he was going on leave, and handed over his duties to his deputy Mohamed Hasan.

This followed an exodus of lawmakers from Umno, with some accusing the president of failing to provide direction for the party.

The source said that aside from Zahid’s perceived closeness to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak – who is blamed for leading BN to its defeat in last year’s general election – party members had also been uncomfortable with the former’s behind-the-scenes overture to PKR.

The plan to form an alliance between Umno and PKR, the source added, had been devised after BN was defeated in the May polls. 

"BN secretary-general Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz was the go-between who met with Umno leaders, including at the division level, to explain the proposal (to form an alliance with PKR).

"However, it created discomfort. Those who quit Umno had also used this as a justification to leave the party," he said.

Zahid had been an ally of current PKR president Anwar Ibrahim when the latter was deputy prime minister.

While many of Anwar's supporters went on to form PKR, Zahid denounced him and returned to Umno.