Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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(Oct 29): There is no plot to unseat Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, said a member of the Malay ruling party’s Supreme Council, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.

Responding to claims by Datuk Jamal Mohd Yunos of a plot to get rid of Muhyiddin, Shahidan said the Sungai Besar Umno head should forward such information to the party’s secretary-general and disciplinary board.

“Umno is not a gangster party, but a party that always prioritises religion, race and nation. As the Perlis liaison committee chief and Umno Supreme Council member, I’ve not heard of any case or plan to topple the deputy president.

“If Jamal has any evidence, he can meet with the secretary-general and inform me of the matter,” Shahidan, who is minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Malay daily Sinar Harian reported yesterday that Jamal confirmed more than 100 Umno division chiefs in the country had attended closed-door talks to get rid of Muhyiddin and his group.

Jamal, who is known as the leader of the Sept 16 “red shirt” rally, said party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak was “too soft and did not have the heart” to make such a move, which led to the axed deputy prime minister becoming more “aggressive” against the Najib administration.  

Sinar Harian also reported that one site, “Johor Bangkit”, claimed that 140 division leaders in Umno, including five from Johor, agreed to remove Muhyiddin who enjoyed strong grassroots support from his home state, Johor.

The site had said that the Supreme Council meeting, which was to be held tomorrow, was postponed to allow them more time to gather support from division leaders to oust Muhyiddin.

Shahidan added that he had not heard of any plans to take action against those who were deemed critical of the party.

"I didn't hear anything. I didn't get any information of any action against any party although the secretary-general is my good friend," he said, referring to Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who said yesterday that seven Umno leaders who had publicly disparaged the party might be suspended.

Shahidan said Perlis Umno and its divisions gave their full backing to the current government led by Najib, as well as the entire Umno leadership.

However, he did not say if that included Muhyiddin. – The Malaysian Insider

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