{
  "id": 8344586,
  "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-8344586",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T23:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "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, once considered a \"prime minister-in-waiting,\" may not be the sole successor, according to political analyst Azmi Hassan. Hassan argues that other capable Umno leaders, such as deputy president Mohamad Hasan and vice-presidents Johari Ghani and Khaled Nordin, could potentially replace Zahid. These alternatives are presented as having less baggage and liability compared to Zahid, who faces 47 charges in the Yayasan Akalbudi case. Giving prominence to these leaders could project a cleaner, anti-corruption image for Umno, crucial for forming a federal government with PAS and Borneo parties. Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin had previously referred to Zahid as a \"prime minister-in-waiting,\" while Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs dismissed these notions as mere \"election bluffs.\"",
  "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": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}