Shafie Apdal to officiate Umno meeting in Kedah MB’s division
(TMI) – Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who was axed from the Cabinet has been invited to open the party’s Jerlun division meeting in Kedah, where Menteri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir is said to be at risk of losing his post.
The Malaysian Insider understands from one of Mukhriz’s officers that Shafie is scheduled to launch the meeting on August 22 in Jerlun, the seat where the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was once federal lawmaker.
Shafie and Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were dropped from the Cabinet recently due to their open criticism of debt-ridden state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
However, both still hold their posts in the ruling party.
A source close to Shafie confirmed that he had been invited to open the division meeting, and would be attending.
Invitations to open ongoing Umno division meetings have seen some adjustments following both Muhyiddin and Shafie’s axing from the Cabinet.
Some divisions have dropped their invitations to either men for fear of being out of favour with the party leadership, while some are still going ahead.
Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is speculated to be dropped as the Kedah menteri besar. Observers have not ruled out the possibility that Mukhriz might lose his post as menteri besar, given that his father, Dr Mahathir, is one of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s fiercest critics.
It was earlier reported that five Kedah assemblyman had met Najib to complain about Mukhriz’s leadership of the state.
A source told The Malaysian Insider that the five assemblymen are Nor Saidi Nayan (Kuah), Mahadzir Abdul Hamid (Jeneri), Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin (Bukit Lada), Harun Abdul Aziz (Kupang) and Ali Yahya (Pantai Merdeka).
