No shortcuts for Anwar to maintain majority, says academic

 

Two analysts agree that the biggest threat to Anwar Ibrahim’s position as prime minister comes from the faction opposing Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: An academic has warned Anwar Ibrahim against looking for shortcuts in trying to consolidate his position as prime minister.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia said Anwar must implement good policies, improve the economy and boost the people’s welfare in order to maintain his premiership.

“If the polls consistently show that the government enjoys support from the majority of the rakyat, Anwar is in good stead to remain as prime minister until 2027,” he told FMT.

He was commenting on whether the outcome of the vote of confidence in Anwar’s leadership in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday had consolidated the prime minister’s position.

Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid.

The opposition did not call for a bloc vote and Anwar won through a voice vote. He previously said he enjoyed the support of 148 MPs from Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional, Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and smaller parties and independents.

Fauzi said the biggest threat to Anwar’s position was the faction in Umno that did not support the party’s president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said this faction could reinstate the “No Anwar, No DAP” principle if it prevailed in the party’s coming elections and replaced Zahid as president.

The party adopted the principle before the recent general election in opposition to cooperating with Anwar and Pakatan Harapan component DAP.

Azmi Hassan.

“If Umno as a whole withdraws from the government, Anwar can’t do anything,” Fauzi said. “Umno’s, and by extension BN’s, withdrawal might prompt similar retractions of support from GRS and GPS.”

Another analyst, Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara, agreed that the biggest threat to the prime minister’s position came from Umno.

Azmi said Anwar could consolidate his position by making Umno stronger under Zahid ahead of the party’s elections, which must be held within six months after the conclusion of the general election.

He said Zahid, if his standing was strengthened, could remain Umno president after the party polls and ensure the continuation of Umno’s support for Anwar’s government. - FMT