Sub-heading: Umno is now using the oxygen it received from the federal alliance to rebuild its own strength, at the expense of Anwar Ibrahim and PH.
No sane Malaysian can miss the current political paradox in Malaysia. The obvious giveaway was Umno deputy president Mohamad Hassan’s assertion that his party will work with its friends in the Aug 1 state election in Negri Sembilan and not its federal partner Pakatan Harapan.
It was a direct slap on the face for prime minister Anwar Ibrahim whose Pakatan Harapan coalition which gave him the post of foreign minister. There was an obvious secret pact between Umno and PAS which saw much success in the recent Johor state election.
Everyone knows it was mainly Anwar who provided a crucial lifeline to Umno. After the 2022 General Election. Umno was in a precarious position after suffering its worst electoral defeat ever. Its top leaders, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi were facing serious corruption charge. The Malay had largely shifted to Perikatan Nasional (PN). By forming the Unity Government, PH and Anwar gave Umno a seat at the table of power. In return, Umno's 30 MPs provided the numbers needed to form a stable government.
For Zahid personally, this alliance was a political and legal lifeline. The charges against him were dropped (subject to a discharge not amounting to an acquittal), and he was appointed deputy prime minister. From this perspective, there is an element of political ingratitude. Umno is now using the oxygen it received from the federal alliance to try and rebuild its own strength, often at the expense of its federal partner.
Enemies in states, Cabinet-mates at federal
This is the most accurate description of the situation. The logic is purely transactional and survival-based. Both Umno and PH need each other to keep PN (PAS and Bersatu) out of Putrajaya. A collapse of the Unity Government would likely lead to a PN-led government. This is an existential threat to both parties. So, they cooperate. State elections are about local dominance. Umno's DNA is about being the champion of the Malays.
To survive in states like Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu, and even Perak and Selangor, Umno believes it must fight PH. They see PH as a direct competitor for the non-Malay vote and the urban Malay vote. Umno is now choosing to cooperate stealthily with PAS (through the old Muafakat Nasional spirit) and the new Malay-centric Wawasan Party at the state level. This is obviously a triangulation strategy. To win back votes from PAS, they need to show they are still friends with the Islamic party, even if they are enemies at the federal level.
This creates a bizarre situation where in Parliament, Umno and PH ministers sit side-by-side, approving budgets and policies. In state assemblies, Umno and PH assemblymen are attacking each other, and Umno is actively campaigning with PAS to defeat PH candidates.
Is it ungrateful of Zahid ?
The answer is yes, from a moral and political loyalty standpoint. But from a purely pragmatic, survivalist political perspective, Zahid would argue "Umno must survive." He believes that if Umno becomes too dependent on PH, it will be absorbed and destroyed. He needs to rebuild Umno as a standalone force. For Umno, the Malay vote is the prize. He sees the Malay ground as volatile. To win it back, he must show that Umno is not a “puppet” of PH which is seen as DAP-dominated by many Malays.
Cooperating with PAS and Wawasan Party at the state level is a way to signal to the Malay base -"we are still with you, not with them." It's a balancing act where Zahid is trying to have his cake and eat it too, enjoy federal power and patronage while simultaneously rebuilding his own party's base to eventually challenge PH.
Ultimate goal to kill off DAP and Anwar
The ultimate goal for many in Umno, especially the Zahid faction, is to eventually marginalise PH and Anwar. The logic is use the federal alliance to stabilise Umno and clear its leaders' legal troubles. At the same time, use state-level cooperation with PAS and Wawasan to rebuild the Malay vote bank. Once Umno is strong enough, either force a snap election or break the alliance and form a new government without PH.
It is seen as deeply ungrateful by PH supporters and many neutral observers. It is a classic example of political Machiavellianism where the end (Umno's survival and return to dominance) justifies the means (betraying a partner that saved it). It is a textbook case of political betrayal. But in the brutal world of Malaysian politics, gratitude is often a luxury that is sacrificed for survival. Zahid Hamidi is playing a long game, and he is betting that Umno can use PH's lifeline to eventually drown PH.
This Machiavellian strategy will most likely lead to annihilation of PKR, DAP at the next general election which will inevitably see a PAS-led federal government.
Parkaran Kutty (parkarank@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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