Beginning of the end for Ismail, say analysts

 

Ismail Sabri Yaakob, 63, has been an Umno vice-president since 2018. He did not seek re-election when nominations closed today for the Umno elections. (Umno Online pic)

PETALING JAYA: Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s decision not to seek re-election as an Umno vice-president could be the beginning of the end of his top-level political career, according to political analysts.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara said Ismail’s decision was likely to spell the end of his career in Umno. “His action shows that he is either not ready to fight for post, or is prepared to lose,” Azmi told FMT.

By opting out of the race, Ismail had indicated that he neither has confidence in himself nor in his Umno faction which is opposed to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

“If the anti-Zahid group fills up most of the important positions in Umno after the elections, I don’t think they will give Ismail another chance. They will be disappointed with his decision, which is akin to abandoning the anti-Zahid fight,” said Azmi.

While Ismail has never publicly opposed Zahid, he has been critical of recent disciplinary steps taken by the party to sack former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and to suspend Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein and former party information chief Shahril Hamdan.

Khairy and Hishammuddin were both members of Ismail’s Cabinet when he was prime minister from August 2021 to November 2022.

The party also decided to bar contests for the posts of president and deputy president.

Political analyst Ooi Kee Beng of Penang Institute said Ismail appeared to have little motivation to continue his political career, having peaked when he became the accidental prime minister after succeeding Muhyiddin Yassin in August 2021.

Ong said he also suspects that Ismail has become “hugely diminished” in significance in the new political scenario following the formation of Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition government.

“To stay on in a leadership position, he would have to stand for something inspiring, positive and exciting,” he told FMT. “He does not, and his stepping aside bodes well for younger hopefuls in Umno.”

Ismail, who is 63, has been an Umno vice-president since 2018. He did not file his papers for the Umno leadership elections when nominations closed today. However, he said he would defend his position as Bera division leader. - FMT