03-23-2022, 10:45 AM
![[Image: PM-Najib-and-Deputy-PM-Zahid-Wear-Crowns.jpg]](http://www.financetwitter.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/PM-Najib-and-Deputy-PM-Zahid-Wear-Crowns.jpg)
Who will become Malaysia’s next prime minister after the 15th General Election, which does not need to be held till middle of 2023, but is being vigorously pushed by the top leadership of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO)? The political party has just concluded its general assembly, but the competition for the top post has just begun, and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri is in trouble.
As the Court Cluster, in reference to several UMNO leaders facing graft charges in court, including former Prime Minister Najib Razak and UMNO president Zahid Hamidi, used the UMNO assembly to pressure the head of Minister Cluster (PM Ismail) to dissolve the Parliament for a snap election, the lame duck prime minister appears ready to surrender.
The first sign the premier, who is one of three UMNO vice presidents, has been cowed into submission was the sudden U-turn to allow Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributors to make yet another special withdrawal. Najib and Zahid had previously demanded that the government approved the withdrawal – a populist idea to hoodwink gullible supporters, especially the Malays.
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