Power sharing a sign of Zahid’s weakening hold?

[superadmin]

PETALING JAYA: Umno’s new election candidate selection process, involving the party’s top three leaders, is likely to weaken Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s hold on power as party president, say two analysts.

Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the candidate list was previously decided by the president. The latest decision to include deputy president Mohamad Hasan and vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob may curb Zahid’s power to choose candidates he sees fit.

However, the new move could also be based on the fact that the Umno president is not the prime minister but it is Ismail, a vice-president, who is prime minister.

Zahid, who is also chairman of Barisan Nasional, said that the BN chairman would have the final say over candidates proposed by Umno, but Awang Azman said Zahid would not be able to reject all the candidates proposed as there would be a conflict of interest.

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