In an interview to mark his first year as prime minister, Ismail told FMT: “There’s no issue between me and him. I have known the president for a long time, since my school days. He is like my elder brother. Only outsiders will say there are rifts in Umno.”
He also insisted he was not trying to drag out Zahid’s trial on corruption charges, contrary to such rumours. He said the courts that are trying Zahid would have a say on the case.
Zahid faces 47 charges involving corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust (CBT) over millions of ringgit from his foundation Yayasan Akalbudi and accepting bribes for various projects during his tenure as home minister.
He also faces 33 charges involving corruption in the Shah Alam sessions court and a further seven similar charges in the Kuala Lumpur sessions court related to the foreign visa system.
Zahid has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
There has been close scrutiny of Zahid’s ties with Ismail, an Umno vice-president, as it is the first time that a Umno vice-president has been made a prime minister, a post that was usually filled by an Umno president.
Their ties are also the focus of observers as the party prepares for the impending 15th general election and subsequently, the party elections six months later.
Ismail also reaffirmed that Barisan Nasional would contest the next elections on its own.
However, he did not want to speak about the party’s future direction. “I’m merely the number three. I have a boss. You need to ask the president,” he said.
Umno has strained relationships with Bersatu and PAS, the leading parties in Perikatan Nasional, one of the parties supporting Ismail’s coalition government.
Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram