Najib can no longer take Muhyiddin for granted
(FMT) – Has Najib been in fact operating a one-man show so far and/or discussing matters of office with others but not his deputy?
Blogger and political analyst Shahbudin Husin, in his latest posting, pointed out that several things could be read from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s statement on Monday night on his relationship with his deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin.
Najib, he stressed, appeared uneasy during the press conference with the media after the Umno Supreme Council meeting. “He did not smile and neither did Muhyiddin who was at his side. Najib appeared unhappy.”
“The Supreme Council meeting and his one-to-one with Muhyiddin must have been very tense and even hot affairs. Many things, suppressed so far, must have been said. There’s no need for a heart-to-heart discussion if there had been regular communication and if there was nothing to discuss.”
It appeared to imply that promises were made and accepted.
Again, Najib appeared to have belatedly realised and acknowledged that he had a deputy who could assist him and should be kept in the loop, he said and quoted Najib’s statement: “I had a heart-to-heart discussion with Muhyiddin this morning and conceded that we should always discuss to ensure that the party leadership is in a comfortable position and strong so that no one can come between us.”
This is the clearest indication so far, he added, that Najib has never discussed anything with Muhyiddin before this, and if at all, seldom. “Najib had previously stated that he always discussed with his deputy but it doesn’t appear to have been the case given Muhyiddin telling the people and the media in Permatang Pauh that ‘he doesn’t know what to say on 1MDB’.”
