Umno needs to sack rebels, says analyst

(FMT) – It is necessary for a political party to expel rebellious members, according to political analyst Jeniri Amir of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

“It is a basic and appropriate action for any party to kick out members who have been criticising it,” he told FMT in a remark that was supportive of Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz’s recent statement that former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir would be sacked from Umno over their vocal criticism of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Jeniri acknowledged that Umno might suffer political repercussions for acting against influential members such as Muhyiddin, but he said the party had no choice but to do so.

“Although I’m sure Muhyiddin has great influence in Johor, for example, rebels like him have become thorns in Umno’s flesh and they cannot be allowed to continue criticising their own party up till the next general election,” he said.

He noted that the fates of Muhyiddin and Mukhriz would have to be decided by the Umno Supreme Council, but he said it would only be natural for the decision-making body to expel the two.

He said he believed that Nazri’s statement came after he had received hints “from the inside” about what would happen to Muhyiddin and Mukhriz.