The time to speak is long over, analysts tell Ismail

Political analysts say former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's recent outbursts against his party's leadership are too little, too late, as the Umno vice-president steps up his criticism ahead of the state elections to be held this year. 

Analyst Mujibu Abd Muis said the time for Ismail to speak up was during his tenure as prime minister. 

"He should have raised these issues then, not now," Mujibu of Universiti Teknologi Mara said. 

"Now, it's too late." 

Ismail had warned Umno of a repeat of its historic defeat last November at the six state elections to be held this year. 

He said Umno needed to show young voters that their demands were being heard as the last general election had proven that it was ultimately their votes that turned the tide against the party.  

He also attacked the party leadership over what he described as double standards in their treatment of him during his time as prime minister, comparing it to their behaviour towards the current government. 

Ismail, the shortest-serving prime minister, had come under intense pressure from Umno leaders, especially party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy Mohamad Hasan, who wanted him to dissolve Parliament without delay to ride on what they believed was the return of Barisan Nasional's (BN) popularity.

He eventually did so, paving the way for the general election in November last year, the aftermath of which saw him joining several other Umno leaders in resisting Zahid's plan to back Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

He was also among a number of top Umno leaders who opposed Zahid's recent move to purge the party of several prominent leaders and members, including former youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. 

Analyst Azizi Safar said only Ismail knew why he had waited until after the election to speak up against the party leadership. 

"Why did he wait until now to make these remarks? That is the question that he must ask himself," he said. 

Nevertheless, Azizi, the former executive secretary of Penang BN, said Umno should take seriously Ismail's warning at the upcoming state polls. 

Mujibu meanwhile said the Umno leadership should be working to change the party's image instead of sacking and suspending senior members. 

On claims that Ismail had intentionally delayed the dissolution of Parliament, Mujibu said the timing of his move was not the main issue. 

"It's more of Umno's move to 'cleanse' the party, which did not come at the right time," he said. 

"Right now, Umno has the advantage of being in the government and can better prepare itself for the state elections. 

"Many no longer see it or Pakatan Harapan as the ideal political choice," he said, adding that such voters would likely turn to Perikatan Nasional instead.