FREE FOR ALL ERUPTS IN UMNO: AS NAJIB GUNS AFTER MUHYIDDIN, ZAHID CAMP UPS THE GAME FOR PM'S CHAIR

KUALA LUMPUR - Tongues set wagging in Umno after embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak again suddenly called off his party's October 30 supreme council meeting, went into overdrive after a mid-level leader confirmed a 'significant movement' was in the works to sack deputy party Muhyiddin Yassin.

Jamal Mohd Yunus, the Sungai Besar division chief and notorious organiser of the pro-Najib Red Shirt rallies, claimed over 100 Umno division leaders across the country would hold closed-door discussions as part of the to remove Muhyiddin and his supporters from the party.

"My personal opinion, Tan Sri Muhyiddin should be fired and we are now in the process of compiling a list of names of divisions to support his removal. If I was the Prime Minister, I would have sacked Muhyiddin a long time ago not only as Umno deputy president but as an Umno members," he told Malay daily Sinar Harian.

Muhyiddin is the deputy prime minister and among a group that included the attorney general Gani Patail and Sabah minister Shafie Apdal, whom Najib sacked at the height of a probe into the RM42-billion 1MDB financial scandal, in which Najib was implicated and allegedly due to be charged for grand corruption.

According to the Sinar Harian report, social media networking sites such as Instagram have been deployed to get the 'Sack Muhyiddin' campaign off the ground and viral.

Political website Johor Bangkit (Johor Arise) has also claimed that there are 140 division heads who have agreed to support the move to fire Muhyiddin, who hails from the southern state and is MP for Pagoh. The website further claimed this was why the supreme council meeting was postponed, so as to allow pro-Najib forces time to collect enough suport to remove Muhyiddin.

Najib's 'henchman'? Jamal goes after Muhyiddin

Umno observers are however unconvinced by Jamal and the ability by the Najib camp to successfully down Muhyiddin, although the 'war' cries may be music to the years of Zahid Hamidi, the powerful Home Minister whom Najib had appointed Deputy Prime Minister to replace Muhyiddin

"Look, Muhyiddin was sacked in June as DPM. But even then, Najib couldn't take him out because he was the elected deputy president of their party. The only way was to launch disciplinary action and get him sacked as an Umno member. This way Muhyiddin is not only no longer Umno No.2 but not even a member at all. He would be out in the cold and his only option would be to join the Opposition or at the very least fight alongside with them. The only other option is retirement with his head down, which Muhyiddin is unlikely to accept.

"But where is the support to do that - Najib didn't and still doesn't have the numbers," a political source told Malaysia Chronicle.

Muhyiddin 'not enough money', Najib arms himself with RM8.5 bil Budget 2016 'slush' fund

Indeed, the 68-year-old Muhyiddin has refused to roll over and shut up despite several sizzling warnings from boss Najib. Instead he has continued to speak up on 1MDB, countered-attacked Najib for sacking him and even alluded to the PM's guilt in the 1MDB debacle.

Some, including supporters of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is still a top power-broker in Umno, believe Muhyiddin has not been strong enough or aggressive enough in upping the ante and pushing the scandal-riddled Najib out.

"Many believe it's true, Muhyiddin has not been tough enough in the fight back against Najib. But may be he is out-gunned in terms of support and money. You need tons of cash to buy support and Najib has that in abundance. He has just allocated his own PM's department RM8.5 billion from the 2016 Budget, which he can spend on his own discretion without referring to the Cabinet . How does one fight this sort of strength.

"But to Umno's credit, there are still some leaders who are speaking up for Muhyiddin. They see no reason why he should be disciplined for speaking up about 1MDB and among these are the Youth leaders including Khairy Jamaluddin. There are many other established senior leaders who are against Muhyiddin's removal. They may keep quiet but they won't sack Muhyiddin to help Najib cling to power. This is what is holding up the supreme council meeting - Najib doesn't have the numbers. And to save him from embarrassment, you have guys like Jamal - who is a nobody in the Umno scheme of things - crowing loudly."

Will Zahid be DPM for '22 years', will Najib be unassailable after budget allocations kick in, GE14?

Another factor that may be staying Najib's hand is Zahid himself. The vice-president elected with the most votes by Umno delegates, Zahid's raw ambition for the PM's chair can no longer be disguised. No matter how much he may profess his support, Zahid is a real threat to Najib.

Already waiting in the wings for the topmost post, Zahid has already lashed out at Muhyddin, telling him to resign if he could not toe the Najib line. Zahid has also told Muhyiddin not to be 'nostalgic'.

Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Zahid

With his aggressive political temperament, Zahid is unlikely not to be aware that he too needs to 'watch' Najib, and not just Muhyiddin.

"We don't think Zahid will keep supporting Najib until the next general election. Once the GE is won, or even when the Budget allocations kick in, Najib will be unassailable. Do you think Zahid wants to play second fiddle while Najib rules for 22 years (a reference to Mahathir's 22-year premiership)," said the political source.

"The moment the coast is clear, we think Najib will replace Zahid with his own cousin Hishammuddin Hussein. Zahid will be discarded just like Muhyiddin. He really should strike a deal with Muhyiddin but the grapevine noise is that he is 'greedy' and Muhyddin too indecisive."

Najib also watching Zahid, waiting to bring in Hisham

For Najib, the mirror situation applies.

While eager to 'get rid' of Muhyiddin and prevent rebellion from spreading across the party, Najib must know his new No. 2, Zahid Hamidi, is also desirous of becoming PM. Perhaps, more so than Muhyiddin.

"You cannot say Najib is without power because he has money and that is real power. But it is still not enough and the absolute power he and his sycophants are portraying is grossly exaggerated and a big show. Umno is split -  not 3 ways between Najib, Zahid and Muhyiddin but at least 5 ways. The more time Najib gets, the stronger he becomes because he is the PM and the post brings with it great authority and ability to regenerate his 'war chest'," said the source.

"But that's it. Najib can easily be toppled if the other 'warlords' put aside their differences and unite for Malaysia's well-being. But they have to work fast. Each day, they haggle, Najib gets stronger and sad to say, Malaysia weaker."

Najib and cousin Hisham

Umno is due to hold its annual general assembly in December. There is talk of a no-confidence vote to be brought against Najib, which is not impossible to achieve.

Nearer by are a no-confidence vote motioned by the Opposition against Najib. The Opposition also hopes to bring down Najib by voting out his Budget 2016 proposal. Although, several Umno leaders including Mahathir  have urged BN Members of Parliament to support the initiatives, these are likely to fail.

"We have to admit we can be defeated but don't count us out yet," Opposition lawmaker Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle. - Malaysia Chronicle