Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is under pressure against appointing MPs who are implicated in corruption cases in his upcoming cabinet line-up.

The centre of contention is Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – who is facing a corruption trial in court but is speculated to be among those whom Anwar might choose to be one of his deputies.

But can Anwar afford to cut Zahid out after what the latter had done to steer Umno towards...