Najib survives political rumblings
(The Star) – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s (pic) control over Umno appears to have survived the political rumblings in the Umno division meetings that will wrap up by this weekend.
Despite “hotspots” and eruptions at various division AGMs over the last one month, the bulk of 188 divisions which have completed their AGMs have passed resolutions supporting Najib, as well as vice-president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Only Gelang Patah in Johor is known to have officially passed a resolution asking the Umno president and Prime Minister to “go on long leave”.
Gelang Patah has been a hotbed of discontent ever since the general election, which saw the seat fall to DAP’s Lim Kit Siang. The division is headed by Mohamad Khairi Malik who is also the political secretary to the Johor Mentri Besar.
There is confusion whether the Langkawi division meeting made news when delegate Anina Saadudin launched an attack on Najib, passed a resolution supporting the top two or whether an amended resolution asking Najib to take a rest had slipped through.
A number of divisions also passed resolutions in connection to the 1MDB issue.
Umno vice-president and Semporna division chief Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal denied that his division had passed a resolution to censure Najib.
Shafie, who was dropped from the Cabinet, said his division was against the postponement of the Umno election and passed a resolution asking for the polls to be held as scheduled. The division also wanted a thorough probe into the 1MDB financial dealings.
He said the reason that Semporna “disinvited” Najib was not because he was angry with the president but because he wanted to avoid any incidents at the AGM.
“About 70% of the members in Semporna are my relatives. They are very upset and I was worried that they would show their unhappiness towards the president,” said Shafie.
The main resolution in Pagoh, which is headed by deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, was to express deep regret that Muhyiddin was removed as Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister. Several other resolutions relating to the 1MDB issue were also passed.
Kampar division chief Datuk Radzi Manan admitted that members were very concerned about issues affecting the party but that party discipline ruled at the end of the day.
The final three divisions to meet are Pasir Salak on Saturday and Pekan and Masjid Tanah on Sunday. Pasir Salak is headed by Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Rahman, Pekan chief is Najib and Masjid Tanah is headed by Najib loyalist Datuk Rauf Yusoh.
Shafie also confirmed that he would be attending the Umno supreme council meeting next week. He said he was unaffected by messages via SMS claiming that several Umno leaders including him, Muhyiddin and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir would be sacked from the party.
Also included in the “black list” are former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, Kulim Bandar Baru division chief Datuk Seri Aziz Sheikh Fadzir and former Perak assemblywoman Datuk Hamidah Osman.
