Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will keep his post in Umno, but observers say his influence in the party has faded away since his sacking from the government. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 12, 2015.
Unlike Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is unlikely to be sacked from his deputy president's post in Umno as he is not taking the same path Anwar did 17 years ago, observers say.
This, they said, is because Muhyiddin has not gone around the country to build a rebellion against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak since his removal from the Cabinet three months ago.
They added that it was not enough to get Muhyiddin sacked from Umno despite his vocal criticism of the prime minister's handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal and the RM2.6 billion "donation" in Najib’s accounts.
"Tan Sri Muhyiddin has not gone to the grassroots to explain what happened. His movement is slow and he is not investing in ways to increase support for himself,” said former Wangsa Maju Umno Youth chief, Shahbudin Husin.
Shahbudin said Muhyiddin’s criticism has only temporarily turned up the heat for Najib but it failed to galvanise the grassroots against the party president.
“Muhyiddin has a lot of criticism but it does not leave a deep impact on the grassroots. The grassroots also do not look serious if Muhyiddin himself is not,” said Shahbudin.
It was widely speculated that Muhyiddin would be sacked from Umno at a much anticipated party Supreme Council meeting last month after he was removed from the Cabinet.
But no such thing happened, instead Muhyiddin expressed his support for Najib to continue as president.
Soon after his dramatic sacking in September 1998, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim went on a nationwide campaign to oust then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 12, 2015.Anwar lost his deputy president’s post in Umno a few days after he was sacked as deputy prime minister on September 2, 1998 by then prime minister and Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar then started a movement to oust Dr Mahathir.
Former minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin said Muhyiddin’s influence within Umno has been slowly neutralised after he was removed from Najib’s administration.
“Najib’s calculation is that he does not need to sack the deputy president as he can slowly kill him off through patronage. Even though (Muhyiddin) is the deputy president, what can he do?” said Zainuddin.
The former information minister also said Najib did not want to complicate matters in Umno after his controversial Cabinet reshuffle in which Muhyiddin and party vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal were removed.
“If he does sack Muhyiddin, it will make matters worse and he will be seen as really cruel.”
Muhyiddin and Anwar are also different by virtue of the fact that Muhyiddin secured his post twice in party elections, first by defeating Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib in 2009, and later by winning uncontested in 2013.
Najib did not sack Muhyiddin as he was chosen by the delegates, unlike Anwar who had won uncontested.
Instead of calling for the Umno presiden't ouster, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed support to Datuk Seri Najib Razak to continue leading Umno. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 12, 2015.“Also, has Muhyiddin done something so bad that justifies his removal from Umno?”Zainuddin asked, adding that Najib can further secure his position in Umno as party polls were now postponed for 18 months.
Echoing Zainuddin, Kota Raja Umno deputy division chief Mohd Hamidi Abu Bakarsaid Muhyiddin did not breach party discipline and neither was he involved in a movement to topple Najib.
“It’s different from Anwar’s case where the offence was clear. What has Muhyiddin really done? If he is sacked, Umno will split into two.”
Grassroots’ anger and signals from the Johor palace on Muhyiddin have also caused Najib to tread cautiously, Hamidi said.
Former Langkawi Umno division women’s leader Anina Saaduddin believes Najib is scared of the grassroots who have become more vocal standing up to the president.
“He can see the potential effects on the party if he sacks Muhyiddin,” said Anina who has filed a civil suit against Najib on the RM2.6 billion in his bank accounts.
Political analyst Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said Najib would face bigger problems if Muhyiddin was sacked.
“So in order not to cause more problems and appear undemocratic, it’s best left alone. If Muhyiddin is sacked, many questions will be asked.
“Why so desperate to remove him, what was the big offence? Why is there no respect for the voice of the grassroots?”
- TMI
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