PM Najib summons all state Umno chiefs for political briefing

Najib Razak calls for meeting after the Cabinet reshuffle Tuesday that saw him give his deputy including the AG the sack.

PETALING JAYA: All state Umno chiefs will be making a bee line for the official residence of Prime Minister Najib Razak at 5.30pm this evening for what has been described as most likely a political briefing.

According to a report in The Star, the chiefs include seven menteris besar and two chief ministers.

It is widely believed this evening’s meeting was called for to explain to them, the latest developments of the past week that included the sacking of Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy prime minister and Shafie Apdal as Minister of Rural and Regional Development including Gani Patail as the country’s Attorney-General.

Speaking to The Star, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar and Umno chairman Mohamed Hasan said the meeting was necessary so that everyone could be informed as one about the past week’s changes.

Sharing his sentiments was another state Umno chief who added, “Whatever I know about the Cabinet reshuffle, I know it from the media.

“We want to hear it from the horse’s mouth. We’ll be all ears.”

He also said that they would likely have questions of their own to ask Najib since the Cabinet reshuffle and sackings were considered “something big”.

There was also the worry of how those at the grassroots would receive the information as it was a major change. “I believe the PM would want to give us his side of the story so that we can take it down to our members,” he said.

Besides clearing the air on these urgent matters, speculation was also rife that some among the state Umno chiefs themselves may be asked to make an exit should Najib want only those he could explicitly trust to be in charge of the state party machinery.

This evening’s meeting was scheduled following the cancellation of the Umno supreme council meeting including another involving Najib and the key office-bearers of all the Umno divisions.