Umno must get rid of opposition mindset, says analyst

 

Demands by Umno leaders are similar to how the opposition would try to ‘strike while the iron is hot’ against a ‘weak’ government, says analyst. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An analyst says Umno needs to act more like a government party now that its vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob is prime minister, instead of how it functioned like the opposition during Muhyiddin Yassin’s tenure.

Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) Ahmad Fauzi Hamid said Umno does not need to openly publicise its demands to Ismail, as how the opposition would do it.

He told FMT that continuing to do so would give the perception that the Umno leadership were not united despite having given their full backing to Ismail as the ninth prime minister.

“We have gone through a dramatic month in the nation’s political arena. Although the end was a little anti-climactic with mostly the same faces in the new Cabinet, the political ‘temperature’ remains high while Covid-19 is still ravaging the country.

“Don’t worsen the situation by making demands as though you’re an opposition party, when the prime minister himself has discussed with Pakatan Harapan (PH) about resolving issues so that the government can function smoothly.

“The Supreme Council and Umno Youth must remember, you have one of your own (leading the government) now,” he said.

After a Supreme Council meeting last Thursday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Ismail had agreed to initiating several institutional reforms and forming a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on claims of political interference in the judiciary.

Meanwhile, former academic Azmi Hassan said the demands the party made were akin to striking when the iron was hot since the government was seen to be still “weak” at this point in time.

“Umno’s demands were similar to what PH had asked for, which is reforming the judiciary and reinforcing Parliament. These demands might be ignored if they are made when the government is in a strong position,” he told FMT.

He also said Umno’s call for institutional reforms and separating the roles of the attorney-general and public prosecutor should be accepted by all to lower the political tension.

“Why are we in such an unstable political situation? Because our institutions are weak and there is a lack of effort to strengthen them, such as the political will to enact an anti-party hopping law.” - FMT