{
  "id": 8341286,
  "title": "Zahid not Umno’s only PM-in-waiting, says analyst",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/zahid-not-umnos-only-pm-in-waiting-says-analyst",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/09/19/zahid-not-umno-s-only-pm-in-waiting-says-analyst"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been described as a potential prime minister-in-waiting, but political analyst Azmi Hassan argues there are other capable leaders in the party. Azmi highlighted Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, known as Tok Mat, as well as vice-presidents Johari Ghani and Khaled Nordin as potential candidates to replace Zahid if needed. These leaders are seen as having less baggage and liability compared to Zahid, who faces 47 charges in the Yayasan Akalbudi case. Azmi believed that giving prominence to these alternative leaders would project a cleaner, anti-corruption image for Umno and help form a federal government with PAS and Borneo parties. However, Singapore Institute of International Affairs' Oh Ei Sun dismissed the prime minister- and government-in-waiting claims as mere election bluff.",
  "summary": "Azmi Hassan says other capable leaders deserve prominence and can give the party a cleaner image.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Umno ada pemimpin lain layak jadi PM selain Zahid, kata penganalisis",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/umno-ada-pemimpin-lain-layak-jadi-pm-selain-zahid-kata-penganalisis",
        "published": "2026-09-18T23:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}