Muhy and Shafie pledge loyalty
Published on: Thursday, September 10, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal have pledged their loyalty and commitment to the party, party president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said, dismissing speculation of their sacking.Thanking them for their support, he said the four-hour Umno supreme council meeting went on well."I welcome Muhyiddin's participation in the meeting as Deputy President. He has stated his loyalty to Umno and willingness to continue to strive to uphold its strength and ensure success of the party in the upcoming general election. I thank him for his commitment to the party," Najib told a press conference after chairing the meeting at the party headquarters here. Similarly, he said Shafie has also pledged the same commitment and will work together with the party.
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Earlier, around 100 supporters of Muhyiddin gathered in front of Menara Dato' Onn here as a show of solidarity towards the axed former deputy prime minister, as Umno leaders convened for the party's supreme council meeting today. Spokesman Khairun Nain from Umno Pagoh division said the gathering involved divisions from the southern state. "Every division in Johor is sending their representatives as a show of support for Muhyiddin," he said.Many had speculated that the party's No. 2 seat would be vacated after the supreme council meeting due to Muhyiddin's strong criticism towards the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.Other leaders rumoured to be axed were party vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
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One Umno Johor member said eight buses came from Johor and few groups from Sabah and Kedah for the highly anticipated meeting.Wednesday's meeting was supposed to be held in July but was postponed twice. It was the first Umno Supreme Council meeting after Najib sacked his deputy in a Cabinet reshuffle at the end of July.
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Muhyiddin was dropped as Deputy Prime Minister in July, following a Cabinet reshuffle, leading to talk that he and former Rural and Regional Development Minister Shafie would be sacked from their respective party post.Both, together with Mukhriz, had criticised prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the government's handling of the 1MDB scandal and had questioned how RM2.6 billion had ended up in the party president's personal bank accounts.Meanwhile, Umno Pagoh division spokesman Khairun Nain said another 900 supporters are making their way to the headquarters as a show of solidarity towards Muhyiddin. He said the gathering at the lobby of the headquarters involved divisions from the southern state."Every division in Johor is sending their representatives as a show of support towards Muhyiddin," he told reporters.Some of the supporters also changed to black T-shirts which featured Muhyiddin's face and the words "The Authentic Leader", with #salutetsmy at the back of the T-shirts.They also chanted "Hidup Muhyiddin, Kekalkan Muhyddin" and held up "Kekal Muhyiddin" placards outside the headquarters. Before the start of the meeting at 3pm, hundreds of members were gathered in front of the main entrance of the Umno headquarters to show their support for Muhyiddin, Shafie and Mukhriz. They were also there when the leaders made their way out, carrying banners and shouting their support for the trio.In a departure from norm, Najib, who usually used the main entrance to enter and exit, was nowhere to be seen. He, however, chaired the meeting. Today's meeting was supposed to be held in July but was postponed twice.Despite pressure from the grassroots to hold the party elections next year, the matter was not discussed at the Umno Supreme Council meeting today."It was not discussed," Najib said, while Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the matter was not on today's agenda.Umno has postponed its party polls which was scheduled for June next year, to the next 18 months.However, the political scenario within the Malay ruling party has changed following the Cabinet reshuffle in late July when Najib, as Prime Minister, axed his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal from the cabinet.Even after they were dropped from cabinet, both Muhyiddin and Shafie were vocal in urging Najib to explain the matter so that the 1MDB scandal can be resolved quickly.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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