Umno throws Ismail Sabri under the bus

PICTURES of the stacks of cash, gold bars and jewellery allegedly linked to a former prime minister have shocked as well as dazzled many out there.

It was an image that needed no explanation, with some describing it as an Aladdin’s cave of treasures and riches.

The treasure trove, which included RM170mil in cash, RM7mil of gold bars and an assortment of jewellery is alleged to be connected to Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob who was prime minister from Aug 2021 to Dec 2022.

Ismail Sabri, who suffered some health issues in the wake of the scandal, has been confirmed as a suspect in the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and he has pledged to cooperate fully.

Also for the first time, many saw what RM1mil in hard cash actually looked like when MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki, wearing white gloves, held up a neatly-packed stack of what looked like RM100 notes - it was almost half his height.

It was quite a show that led a lawyer to comment that the "evidence" had been displayed even before the investigation is over.

The last time Malaysians saw anything this mind-boggling was when the police raided the Pavilion apartments of former prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The latest scandal hit Umno like a thunderbolt. The party has swiftly disassociated itself from the seizure even though Ismail Sabri was a former vice-president and is still Bera MP.

It does look like Umno has thrown Ismail Sabri under the bus.

"We call him Pak Long, he is always approachable, a people’s man and not proud at all. But I guess somebody has to face the music," said Segamat deputy Umno chief Datuk Bastien Onn.

The chatter in the pro-Ismail Sabri group is that the money was meant for political spending in the general election, presumably the 2022 election. They are trying to imply that the funds belong to Umno and the party should take responsibility.

That went down badly with the general body of Umno politicians who had struggled with funds in the 2022 general election and 2023 six-state elections. Many of them had to dig into their own savings.

This second group has argued that if it was indeed political funding, it should have been dispersed during the elections instead of being stashed away in a safe house.

But even as this silly debate goes on, the fact is that too many Umno leaders, past and present, have been tainted by scandals and court cases involving stupendous sums of money.

Ismail Sabri became some sort of outcast in Umno after he took over as prime minister with Bersatu’s support. He was perceived as listening to Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin more than to his own party president.

"Ismail is a good friend, we are from Pahang and we grew up together in the party. He is the third Pahang leader to become prime minister.

"I feel sad to say this, but many of our members thought he did not do enough to help our party in the Johor and Melaka snap elections. He only dissolved Parliament in 2022 after a lot of pressure from our party," said Pahang state assembly speaker Datuk Seri Sharkar Shamsudin.

Umno has made steady progress in the past one year. It won a couple of by-elections and its ministers are seen as hard-working and experienced.

But with this issue blowing up, it seems like Umno has taken one step forward and two steps backwards.

Umno chat groups have been going on non-stop about the scandal. There is a great deal of frustration and concern about its impact on the party.

Much of the anger is directed at Ismail Sabri. A string of screenshots taken from media reports, with quotes from politicians who support Ismail Sabri have been making the rounds.

Among the screenshots was one of Khairy Jamaluddin asking Ismail Sabri to challenge Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the Umno presidency.

Another showed Khairy’s podcast partner Shahril Sufian Hamdan insisting, in the run-up to the last general election, that Ismail Sabri should remain the prime minister.

Yet another screenshot had PAS politician Tan Sri Annuar Musa saying that Ismail Sabri should be the Barisan Nasional chairman.

"Where are these people now? Why so quiet?" asked the person who put up the screenshots.

Supreme council member and a trained land surveyor, Datuk Seri Alwi Che Ahmad, said he was bombarded by questions about the issue when he attended a land surveyors meeting last week.

"Everyone wanted to know about it. I had a tough time explaining and I could tell from their reaction that they saw it as an Umno problem.

"Ismail is a nice man and I consider him a friend, but he was not seen as supportive of Umno during his time as prime minister. I’m afraid there is quite little sympathy for him in the party," said Alwi, who was the former Kok Lanas assemblyman.

Alwi is also friends with the aides of Ismail Sabri who were remanded by MACC. Two of them had visited Alwi at home when he was recovering from back surgery and Alwi noted that they arrived in a BMW X7.

Lawyer and Umno politician Ainul Aizat Ahmad Ishak who has been watching the unfolding drama, said it is time for the government to seriously consider legislation on political funding.

"Every political party needs funds to run an election. Some ministers from our party have been talking about it and I hope it will lead to something useful. It will enable parties to source legitimate sources of donations and funds," said Ainul Aizat.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that legal action will be taken against anyone who tries to associate the party with the scandal.

This is only the start, no one has been charged yet. Imagine if and when the case goes to court and the story unfolds with witnesses singing like canaries.

Can Umno really escape the spillover effect when it involves one of their own?

Come what may, Umno is in for another rollercoaster ride.