Speaking to FMT on condition of anonymity, the Umno Supreme Council member said a group within the party was working to paint Zahid as weak and unfit to remain as president.

“This group is trying to split the party so they can later contest the posts of president and deputy president.

“Their aim is to build the narrative that Zahid is ineffective and unsuitable to lead the party,” the leader said.

At the Ledang Umno division meeting last Sunday, Mohamad said certain quarters were trying to pit him against Zahid with the aim of weakening the party’s leadership.

“Some people are trying to drive a wedge between the Umno president and me. I just smile because these people cannot be trusted, especially since they’ve also spoken badly about the president.

“I don’t even know what they might be saying behind my back,” he was reported to have said.

FMT is withholding the identity of the person named by the source as a leader in the group that intends to take over the party.

Political analyst Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also believes there may be a coordinated effort from within Umno to unseat Zahid as party president.

“The easiest way to do that is by creating rumours – that Mohamad will challenge Zahid for the presidency, and that Zahid’s proxy will challenge Mohamad for the post of deputy president.

“Whether it’s true or not, the perception being created is that the top two Umno leaders are preparing to challenge each other,” he said.

Azmi said the aim was to create the impression of internal conflict to weaken Zahid, even though he believes Zahid and Mohamad enjoy a good relationship.

“There is no indication that Mohamad wants to challenge Zahid, or vice versa. The rumours are not meant to tarnish Mohamad’s image, but rather to portray Zahid as someone who has lost control of the party.

“This is either the work of those in Umno who don’t like Zahid or political enemies from outside the party,” he said, adding that he believes it to be the latter.