ALL EYES ON MUHYIDDIN'S 'HOT SPEECH': WILL HE SPILL THE BEANS ON HIS SACKING?

KUALA LUMPUR - Many eyes will be on Kluang Umno’s divisional meeting on Sunday morning for a scheduled appearance by deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, who was dropped last week as deputy prime minister two days after a “hot” speech at Cheras Umno.

With other Umno divisions reportedly cancelling their invitations to Muhyiddin in the wake of his ouster from the government, Kluang is one of two divisions going ahead with their plans.

Muhyiddin has also been invited to Kemaman Umno’s divisional meeting at a date to be decided.

The division is headed by Ahmad Said, former state Umno leader and Menteri Besar of Terengganu, who briefly caused a political crisis by resigning from the party with two others in 2009, creating the possibility of a minority government in the state, after falling out with Najib Razak, the Umno president and prime minister.

During Ahmad Said’s tenure, the state proposed to set up the Terengganu Investment Authority funded by oil royalties from the federal government. TIA was later taken over by the federal government and turned into 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the government-owned investment arm being investigated over its finances and RM42 billion in debts.

1MDB was the subject of Muhyiddin’s speech at the Cheras Umno meeting, at which he criticised Najib’s handling of the issue.

Muhyiddin Yassin

With other Umno divisions snubbing Muhyiddin after his cabinet ouster, Kluang Umno division chief Md Jais Sarday said the invitation to the deputy president still stood.

“Yes, we will continue with our programme this Sunday with Tan Sri,” he said, according to Malaysian Insider. “Tan Sri Muhyiddin is still our leader, he is still the deputy president. Moreover, we invited him before the cabinet reshuffle. Is it wrong for us to invite one of the party’s top leaders?” he said.

Md Jais, a member of the state executive council, dismissed the actions of other divisions. “Never mind, wait until this Sunday when Muhyiddin comes. I will speak at the function,” he said, according to the report.

Muhyiddin is scheduled to open the divisional meeting at 10am today at Dewan Jubli Intan.

Johor is Muhyiddin’s home state, and he was menteri besar of the state, long regarded as an Umno stronghold, before moving into the federal government.

Muhyiddin’s special officer also confirmed an invitation from Kemaman, but the date and venue for the divisional meeting was yet to be confirmed.

Another Umno supreme council member being snubbed by several divisions was Mohd Shafie Apdal, a party vice-pesident who was dropped as rural development minister.

Umno divisions in Batu Gajah and Ipoh Barat cancelled their invitations to give opening speeches at their meetings this weekend, but Shafie carried on at Hulu Selangor division’s meetings for the Women, Youth and Puteri wings today.

“We have made preparations for a long time and it is not nice if this is cancelled at the last minute,” said a spokesman for the division quoted by Malaysian Insider. Najib is scheduled to open the divisional meeting tomorrow.

“This is not a big issue, to us, both are still main Umno leaders,” he said. - FMT