PETALING JAYA: While the signs point to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin being suspended as Umno deputy president for his attacks on Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, there is much conjecture over how that outcome will be reached at the party’s supreme council meeting today.
Although a formal complaint usually has to be heard by the party disciplinary board, party officials said that the supreme council could bypass that process.
They said that it had the authority to make an immediate collective decision on the case, as it was the top decision-making body in Umno.
The last time that happened was when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from the party on Sept 4, 1998.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor affirmed this when contacted, saying “the supreme council, as the party’s highest decision-making body, can decide on such matters.”
At today’s 4pm meeting, supreme council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz will start the ball rolling by lodging a formal complaint against Muhyiddin.
“The disciplinary board cannot act without a formal complaint and if my complaint is accepted by the supreme council, the matter can then be brought to the board,” he said.
Article 9.8.2 of the Umno constitution states that the deputy president must assist the president in carrying out his duties. Article 20.8 states that every member must, among others, obey and respect party decisions and protect the good name and dignity of the party.
“Instead of trying to persuade them to support the party leadership, Muhyiddin continues to undermine the party president.
“Muhyiddin not only criticised the president, but at the same time, he incited party members when he met several branch leaders in Port Dickson recently,” said Nazri.
He was referring to a speech Muhyiddin gave on Saturday in Teluk Kemang, Negri Sembilan, where the former deputy prime minister questioned why the Attorney-General had decided not to take action against Najib over the RM2.6bil political donation issue.
The party rules also state that any member who flouts the Umno constitution or code of ethics faces various punishments including a warning, suspension of his rights in the party, being barred from contesting any party post or being fielded as a general election candidate, or expulsion from the party.
Asked if Umno’s performance will be affected in Johor if Muhyiddin is suspended, Nazri said it should not be a concern as Muhyiddin did not represent the majority voice of Johoreans.
“Since when did Muhyiddin represent Johor?
“Umno Johor is under the leadership of Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin. If Khaled calls me, then that is something different,” said Nazri.
A growing number of party leaders have openly expressed their support for Nazri’s move, including his fellow supreme council members Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said an Umno leader had the responsibility to be loyal to the party and constitution.
“Clearly, the actions of the deputy president who has repeatedly issued open statements against the party president is having an impact on our party,” she said.
Raub Umno division deputy chief Datuk Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram said Muhyiddin’s suspension might cause unhappiness among some members but said the party’s long-term interest was more important.
“At the end of the day, if Muhyiddin remains as deputy president but cannot stay on the same page as the rest of the other leaders, then he becomes a thorn in the flesh which can hurt Umno.”
Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who was also dropped from the Cabinet line-up in July last year defended Muhyiddin.
Shafie said Muhyiddin was only voicing out his concerns based on what was happening in the Government and the party.
“The party and the Government is far more important than some leaders and individuals,” said Shafie.
At press time, Muhyiddin had yet to issue a statement in response to Nazri’s plans to lodge a complaint against him. -Star
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