‘Red shirt’ leader, Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin among 7 on Umno’s watch list

© Provided by The Malaysian Insider (From left) Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at an October 12 press conference where they criticised…Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Jamal Mohd Yunus, now better known as a spokesman for the “red shirt” rally movement, is believed to be one of the seven Umno leaders in danger of being suspended from the party, a source said.

Other leaders also on the firing line, as told to The Malaysian Insider by party insiders, are former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, former minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin, former Kedah menteri besar Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and Cheras division chief Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee.

It is also learnt that the secretary-general’s office is still scrutinising the offences allegedly committed by these members and is said to be facing difficulty in framing charges.

The legal adviser handling the cases involving the seven has also opted out in the midst of investigations after being unable to build a case against them, the insider said.

“The secretary-general’s office is still trying to determine the offences they committed,” the source told The Malaysian Insider.

“The lawyer has withdrawn from the case, over not knowing what offence to charge them with.”

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor recently said any party member found to have violated the party’s constitution could face suspension.

He said a committee at the party’s headquarters was looking through the cases and would present its findings to party president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as well as the disciplinary board, which would determine the punishment to be meted out.

Umno is said to be desperate to act against Muhyiddin before its general assembly in December, to prevent him from officiating the assemblies of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings.

The party has yet to decide who will officiate the opening of the wings’ assemblies in lieu of Muhyiddin.

“If there’s a chance, maybe Muhyiddin will only deliver a winding-up speech at the end of the general assembly,” said the source.

Muhyiddin, who is still deputy president, was sacked as deputy prime minister in late July after openly questioning Najib, the prime minister, over his handling of debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Since then, Muhyiddin has stepped up his criticism of Najib’s leadership.

© Provided by The Malaysian Insider Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Jamal Mohd Yunus, spokesman for the ‘red shirt’ rally movement, is accused of making racially tinged statements. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 3, 2015.Umno convention dictates that the president delivers the policy speech at the assembly, which the delegates then take turns to debate. 

The deputy president delivers the officiating speech at the Youth, Puteri and Wanita assemblies, which take place a day before the general assembly.

The general assembly will run from December 8 to 12.

In June, Najib said Umno’s elections, slated for next year, would be postponed for another 18 months. The last time party polls were held was in October 2013.

But some Johor Umno grassroots have called for the party elections to be carried out without delay, after Najib removed Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister.

Besides Muhyiddin, who was also education minister, Shafie was sacked as minister of rural and regional development. Shafie had also criticised 1MDB, which is Najib’s brainchild.

Dr Mahathir has led the chorus of criticism against 1MDB and Najib, having written at length on the state firm’s allegedly missing billions on his blog. 

He has also repeatedly called for the prime minister’s resignation, saying that Najib would cost Barisan Nasional (BN) the next general election.

Jamal is one of the most vocal leaders behind the September 16 “red shirt” rally, or Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, and has made racially tinged statements.

He recently said 100 Umno divisions would take part in a covert movement to remove Muhyiddin. 

However, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz has rubbished this and declared Jamal a nobody.