Mas Ermieyati may be reputable and capable, but Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman and incoming Wanita Bersatu chief would already have her hands full with national-level duties.
Fauzi said Bersatu should instead look to develop Yadzil’s talent and local support, with an eye on the next Melaka state election.
“Yadzil should focus on cultivating grassroots support for Bersatu in Melaka, bearing in mind that Perikatan Nasional stands a real chance at grabbing the reins of government at the state level during the next state elections.
“If this happens, Yadzil is definitely a contender for the chief minister’s post, while Mas Ermieyati will be in line for a Cabinet post should the federal government fall to PN (in the next general election),” he told FMT.
However, Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said what was happening in Melaka Bersatu was a common occurrence in political parties, with local warlords seeking to stave off challenges by “parachuted central favourites”.
He said only local figures with solid grassroots support would be able to withstand the pressures of giving way to a more prominent central leader.
“Undoubtedly, Bersatu’s senior leadership would like to promote Mas Ermieyati’s political prominence even further by recognising her grassroot experience in handing her the Melaka Bersatu leadership.”
Yadzil, who is vying for a seat in the Bersatu Supreme Council in the party polls, previously complained of attempts at sabotaging his political career, resulting in the suspension of his Jasin Bersatu division.
The suspension was imposed after it allegedly failed to hold meetings, with party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin saying the division will for now come under the control of the Supreme Council.
Sources told FMT that the suspension came into effect after it was discovered that several branches within the division had failed to hold meetings.
A Melaka Bersatu grassroots leader then called for Yadzil to make way for Mas Ermieyati, saying it would give Bersatu a better chance of wresting control of Melaka at the next state polls.
Oh dismissed suggestions that the proposal was an attempt to usurp power for personal gain.
“Bersatu is not in power at the moment, at least not in Melaka, and a lot of party assets have been frozen. So, in principle, the local warlord should be able to hold the fort, unless his political performance is wanting.”