Umno Vice President Khaled Nordin has characterized Zaid Ibrahim’s recent move to join the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) as a bid to maintain political relevance. Nordin stated Ibrahim had effectively distanced himself from Umno some time prior to the formal announcement of his departure. He downplayed the significance of the switch, suggesting it was not a substantial loss for the party. Nordin’s comments indicate Umno views Ibrahim’s decision as motivated by personal political considerations rather than a fundamental ideological shift. The statement aims to minimize any perceived impact of Ibrahim’s defection on Umno’s standing. This follows Ibrahim’s announcement of joining PAS, a key component of the current ruling coalition. Nordin did not elaborate on the specific reasons behind his assessment of Ibrahim’s motivations.