Analysts see a Nenggiri boost for Zahid and Umno

August 19, 2024

Analysts see a Nenggiri boost for Zahid and Umno

PETALING JAYA: Analysts say Barisan Nasional’s victory in the Nenggiri by-election in Kelantan will be a confidence booster for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and the party, as they prepare for the Mahkota by-election in Johor.

Political analyst Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani said the Nenggiri result is a boon for Zahid, who will head to next week’s Umno general assembly with energised supporters.

The result, in which Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani secured a 3,352-vote majority against Perikatan Nasional’s Rizwadi Ismail, will also boost Umno’s machinery ahead of the Mahkota by-election on Sept 28.

“If Umno is able to win back-to-back by-elections, it will help restore some faith in Zahid’s leadership and reputation within the party,” said Asrul.

“Zahid and Umno can also claim that Malay voters are returning to the party.”

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The decision of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to partner with Zahid in the unity government may also be vindicated after he was criticised for appointing the Umno president and BN chairman as his deputy prime minister, said Asrul.

Zahid faced intense calls to resign in August last year after BN’s dismal showing at legislative elections in six states, and at the 2022 general election.

BN later went on to be part of the federal government coalition led by Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar, a move which proved decidedly unpopular among Umno grassroots members.

Asrul said the Nenggiri by-election result meant that it was likely Umno would continue to distance itself from its unity government coalition partners, especially DAP, and campaign alone in Malay-majority rural seats.

Before the by-election campaign began, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Umno’s election director in Nenggiri, said there was no need for DAP to campaign on the ground as the constituency was “100% Malay”.

Umno Supreme Council member Ahmad Maslan agreed, pointing out that there were only 35 Chinese voters in the constituency.

However, Asrul said it was more important for Umno to focus on bread-and-butter issues, and avoid polarising topics such as race, when campaigning.

Another analyst, Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid of Universiti Sains Malaysia, said last night’s result would put Zahid in a good light in Umno and also reflected well on the unity government and its recent economic achievements.

Fauzi said recent announcements such as the strong economic growth, rise in the value of the ringgit, and a pay hike for civil servants, were among factors which contributed to the Nenggiri win.

“All this has been good for BN. It will strengthen their hand at the Mahkota by-election, and it will also cement their claim for the seat,” he said.

PH confirmed yesterday that it will not field a candidate for the Mahkota by-election and would throw its support behind BN’s candidate.

The by-election follows the death of Umno assemblyman Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.