KUALA LUMPUR - All eyes are on Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who is due to return from overseas tonight. Will he announce his resignation after an unmistakable hint from his boss Prime Minister Najib Razak to quit.
Muhyiddin angered his boss when he criticized the shadowy wheeling and dealing in 1MDB, the controversial sovereign fund created by Najib but which is now believed to be embroiled in serious debt and may even be 'insolvent'.
Muhyiddin's controversial video in which he called for the entire 1MDB board, which would include Najib, to be sacked and the police called in to investigate is seen within Umno as a direct challenge to Najib's authority.
Hence, Muhyiddin who is also Umno's deputy president, will be closely watched by the nation. His supporters are also keen to go head to head with Najib after Friday's 'insult'.
At last week's Cabinet meeting, Najib was reported by Umno newspaper Utusan as having told his ministers to stick with him on 1MDB or hand in their resignations.
Some Umno watchers believe at least 2 ministers and 3 deputies will take up Najib's challenge, a tactical move that may result in Najib's own ouster.
Indeed, the mass resignations - if they materialize - will signal a crisis of confidence in Najib and should he refuse to step down, his rivals led by Muhyiddin can then claim the moral green light to go for a no-confidence vote against him in Parliament.
"Muhyiddin's return from holiday this afternoon will inevitably be a 'big event' that may attract many, especially UMNO members, keen to know his actual stance" wrote Umno analyst Shahbudin Husin.
According to Shahbudin, Muhyiddin's head of information Tosrin Jarvanti has been actively sending out SMSes to supporters to greet him at the airport 'en masse' so as to show their support for him on the issue of 1MDB.
Mood in Umno now is anti-Najib
Based on the current mood against the increasingly unpopular Najib, a hero's homecoming may await Muhyiddin.
Previously short on grassroots support, Muhyiddin is now quite widely regarded by Umno members as their brightest hope to kick out Najib's regime, which is being viewed as corrupt, spendthrift and avaricious.
"Is Muhyiddin ready to make an important announcement at the airport this afternoon? Will Umno be plunged into a new round of turmoil, in particular the relationship between Muhyiddin and Najib?"
Muhyiddin cannot dodge making a response
Even if Muhyiddin, known for his cautious streak, decides to stay silent tonight, he cannot escape making a formal response in the days to come.
Muhyiddin will either have to fall in line with Najib's demands and declare his support for his boss, or state his objection - in which case Najib has made it clear, he must quit.
It is telling that a video, this time 'starring' Negri Sembilan chief Minister Mohamad Hassan has begun circulating in the Umno sphere. Although Hassan did not mention Muhyiddin's name, his jibe that those who did not support the PM must go left no doubt that he was referring to Najib's ultimatum to Muhyiddin.
"There are two things you can't choose in life – one is parents, and the other is the boss. But if you don't like the boss, you leave, not the boss who must leave," Hassan said in the video.
Umno members too have turned to the social media especially WhatsApp to buzz about Muhyiddin's return and speculating if he would reiterate his stand on 1MDB and demand a full probe.
According to reports, Muhyiddin's plane is due to touch down around 9.00 pm, June 2 and the welcome home 'celebrations' to be held at Anggrek, Departure Hall, KLIA. - Malaysia Chronicle
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