Umno lacks numbers to destabilise unity government, says analyst
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno does not appear to have sufficient political strength to destabilise the unity government despite party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s challenge to the administration, an analyst said.
KUALA LUMPUR: A political analyst claimed that the United Malays National Organisation (Umno) lacks the necessary political power to destabilize the unity government, despite Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's challenge to the administration. Associate Professor Dr Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities outlined several democratic channels through which Umno could withdraw its support if it chose to do so.
He emphasized that the most feasible option for Zahid to challenge the unity government is to adhere to the principle of collective cabinet responsibility, allowing Umno ministers to resign if they disagree with the prime minister's stance. The analyst also noted that Umno and Barisan Nasional seemed uncertain about their capacity to bring down the unity government by withdrawing support.
As per parliamentary democracy principles, if Umno no longer supports the administration, it could initiate a withdrawal. However, the analyst highlighted that Umno currently possesses 120 MPs, which would still constitute a simple majority government even if the party withdrew its backing. He also mentioned that Umno's position would only be at risk if support from Sabah and Sarawak were to be withdrawn, as Anwar's relationships with the Sarawak Premier and Sabah Chief Minister remained strong.
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