PETALING JAYA: The fall of PPBM deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu as Perak menteri besar could mean Umno is sending a warning to the prime minister, says a political analyst.
The prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin, is president of PPBM and head of the Perikatan Nasional coalition federal government which is supported by the Umno-led Barisan Nasional.
Political scientist Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya said the Perak vote could be Umno’s way of showing its dissatisfaction with PPBM, and PPBM should not take the matter lightly.
“The first stage of the federal budget may have been approved at Dewan Rakyat but Umno may have other ways of removing Muhyiddin Yassin,” he told FMT.
He said Umno MPs could still work with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to remove Muhyiddin through statutory declarations of support for an alternative.
The move, he said, was also a message to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun to allow a motion of no confidence against Muhyiddin.
“They want to state that if a state assembly can allow a motion of confidence against the menteri besar, why not have the same in the Dewan Rakyat,” he added.
Another political commentator, Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia, also said PPBM needed to strengthen its ties with Umno.
“Faizal may have lost because of internal bickering rather than because of the opposition,” he said, referring to Perak menteri besar who lost the confidence of the state assembly after 48 members voted against a motion of confidence in him yesterday.
There were 10 votes in support of Faizal and one spoiled vote.
The motion was submitted by Pengkalan Bharu assemblyman Abdul Manaf Hashim, who is from Umno.
But retired political analyst Azmi Hassan said the altercation in Perak did not reflect Umno’s disappointment with PPBM at the national level.
“Even during the 22 months under PH, the same menteri besar had difficulties with PH,” Azmi said, adding that this could be due to Faizal’s leadership style which was not agreeable to others.
“He may be known to divide and rule which is not accepted by others,” he added.
Azmi advised Muhyididn, the PPBM president, to have a better line up of leaders to strengthen his party.