Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(Sept 7): Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has summoned the party's political bureau to a meeting this morning, two days ahead of the long-delayed Supreme Council meeting on Wednesday.

Today's meeting, held in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in Putrajaya, comes amid rumours that the Supreme Council will sack party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, and five others from Umno on Wednesday.

According to an invitation letter, signed by secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the bureau meeting will be held at 9.30am in the government office.

Tengku Adnan has yet to respond to The Malaysian Insider's attempts to contact him and confirm the meeting.

Najib is to chair the meeting, while Muhyiddin and Shafie have also received invitation letters, a source said.

It is understood that the two may be attending, although their special officers have yet to respond to The Malaysian Insider's request for comments.

However, neither Muhyiddin nor Shafie were invited to an earlier meeting on Sept 1, which was also held at the PMO.

Only a few Supreme Council members close to Najib attended the Sept 1 meeting, said the source.The invitation letter, signed by secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, to the bureau meeting which will be held at 9.30am today.

"Muhyiddin and Shafie might attend this Monday's meeting. But they were not invited to the pre-Supreme Council meeting on Sept 1.

"Only a few Supreme Council members close to Najib went," said the source.

Meanwhile, Umno's top leadership has yet to call for a meeting of the Supreme Council's management meeting, even though it is customary for Muhyiddin to chair the meeting before the Supreme Council meeting.

"It's strange because usually a management meeting is held before the Supreme Council meeting.

"But this time, there is no management meeting and Najib is suddenly calling for a meeting of the political bureau," said the source.

He said there was talk among members that something important would happen during today's meeting, as it was taking place amid grassroots anger over Najib's scandal-ridden leadership.

"Something major is expected to happen. Besides, this is the first meeting Muhyiddin and Shafie will attend with the president since their dismissal from the Cabinet.

"My sources say that Najib is trying to find a peaceful solution to the crisis in the party."

Najib dropped Muhyiddin and Shafie from the Cabinet in July, following their criticism over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) transferred into his accounts.

Despite being stripped of their government posts, the two have continued to criticise Najib over 1MDB and the donation.

A message circulating on WhatsApp is claiming that Muhyiddin and Shafie, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Datuk Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Datuk Hamidah Osman and Datuk Jumat Idris will be axed from Umno in Wednesday's meeting.

Two Supreme Council meetings in July and August were already cancelled over concerns that it would trigger widespread anger, should the council decide to boot Muhyiddin and Shafie from the party. – The Malaysian Insider

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