Penawar: No mutiny in Umno

Penawar president Aziz Shamsuddin says the organisation comprising ex-Umno MPs is supportive of Najib's leadership.

KUALA LUMPUR: Penawar, an organisation comprising former Umno MPs, has denied calling on Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to step down.

Speaking to reporters here this evening, Penawar president Aziz Shamsudin also dismissed speculation of a mutiny brewing in Umno.

“In the meeting on July 29, which I chaired, Penawar did not and has never made the decision to call for Najib to step down. Any misperception should be corrected,” he said.

He said that at the meeting Penawar discussed Najib’s administration and the state of governance.

Denying the existence of a move to oust Najib, the former political secretary to Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this was a misconception.

“There is no such thing. Umno is fully behind Najib,” he said, adding that the prime minister had worked hard to develop the nation.

“A lot of people are saying things blindly, we were formerly in the government ourselves and sympathise with him,” he said.

Aziz, a former Cabinet minister, explained that Penawar was formed to provide views and support to the prime minister.

“So we are sad that it was reported that we asked for him to step down, we old Umno leaders respect the government and are loyal to Umno,” he said.

‘Slander is widespread’

Yesterday, FMT reported that Penawar, during its meeting last week, had expressed disappointment in Najib’s leadership and wanted him to step down while Aziz, when contacted, declined to comment.

In a posting, prominent blogger Mohd Sayuti Omar had also claimed that among those who attended the meeting was Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s brother, Aziz Yassin and former deputy premier Ghaffar Baba’s son, Thamrin.

Aziz was also present during Penawar’s press conference today.

This morning, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali also claimed that there was an attempt to oust Najib before the next general election.

Meanwhile, Aziz said if it was true that a Penawar member had fed false information about the meeting to the media, then he should resign.

“In this organisation we have discipline and conditions. If he said so, then he should feel guilty. We are honourable people,” he said, expressing regret that those who benefitted during the past 50 years, had now turned their backs on the government.

Aziz also remarked that slander was now widespread and this must be curtailed or the “nation would be enveloped in darkness”.

In a related development, a source claimed that Penawar was forced to backtrack because of political pressure.

“This is the game of politics. When something that is meant to be kept behind closed doors becomes public, it creates an akward situation,” he added.