Ahmad Zahid Hamidi believes that it is "divine intervention" that made him deputy prime minister.

"It was Allah's fate for me. It's just like the sixth pillar of Islam: Believe in qada' and qadar (fate and destiny)," he told delegates at the Kota Tinggi Umno division meeting today.

In his bid to win over the people of Johor, Zahid said he would also go to the ground in the state to shore up support among Umno grassroots.

"I volunteer to go with Johor Menteri Besar Khaled Nordin to the ground to strengthen the grassroots in Johor," he said.

Zahid, who is also an Umno vice-president, said Johor was crucial to the party and BN, and had long been a fixed deposit during elections.

The deputy premier's advances towards Johor Umno comes amid a rift in the party, after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak axed Muhyiddin Yassin from the cabinet.

Muhyiddin's removal had stirred up anti-Najib sentiments in Johor Umno, with many divisions rallying behind the former state menteri besar.

Zahid was a crowd pleaser today, showing off his Javanese roots by addressing the Kota Tinggi delegates in the Javanese dialect.

He also called on Kota Tinggi Umno leaders to install air-conditioning in Felda Loh Keng Timur, much to the sweating delegates delight.

His arrival at the division meeting was also greeted with much fanfare, outstaging Muhyiddin's welcome in his own home state.

While Muhyiddin was greeted with just kompang and bunga manggar , Zahid's welcome ceremony topped that with a lion dance, Indian flute music, and a short silat (traditional Malay martial arts) performance.

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