Plot afoot to oust Muhyiddin as Umno No. 2, says report

More than 100 Umno division chiefs are reportedly plotting to remove party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, October 28, 2015.

There is a movement to get rid of Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and a group of of "wolves in sheep's clothing" within the party, confirmed Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Mohd Yunus.

Malay daily Sinar Harian today reported Jamal confirming that more than 100 Umno division chiefs in the country had attended closed talks to get rid of Muhyiddin and his group.

Jamal said he did not think the talks, which were done quietly, would be leaked to the media.

"In my personal opinion, Muhyiddin has to be sacked and now we have a group of division leaders who are supporting the movement.

"If I am the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak), I would have sacked him not just as party deputy president, but as an Umno member as well," he was quoted as saying by the daily.

Jamal, who is known as the leader of the September 16 "red shirt" rally, said Najib was "too soft and did not have the heart" to make such a move, which had led to Muhyiddin becoming more "aggressive" against the prime minister's administration.

"I have pushed for some time for Muhyiddin to be sacked from the government and the party. Look at what he is doing now.

"That is why we are gathering support to get him out of the party and replaced," Jamal added.

Meanwhile, Hulu Langat Umno division chief Johan Abdul Aziz only said disciplinary action should be taken against Muhyiddin by the party leadership following his "recent actions".

Muhyiddin has become increasingly critical of Najib over his running of the administration, namely his handling of the scandals surrounding debt-ridden state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and a RM2.6 billion donation from a Middle Eastern donor banked into Najib's private accounts before the 2013 general election.

Following his criticism, Muhyiddin was sacked as deputy prime minister and removed from the Cabinet as education minister in late July.

Since then there have been calls to remove him as Umno deputy president. The campaign has gone viral on social network sites and is reportedly spreading via Instagram.

Sinar Harian reported that one site, "Johor Bangkit" had claimed that 140 division leaders in Umno, including five from Johor, had agreed to remove Muhyiddin who is said to enjoy strong grassroots support from his home state Johor.

The site added that the Umno Supreme Council meeting, which was to be held this Friday, had been postponed to allow them more time to gather support from division leaders to make the plot to oust Muhyiddin a success.

- TMI