Former Umno vice-president Hishamuddin Hussein is masterminding the defections in Umno, alleged party sources.
Sources told Malaysiakini this when asked to shed light on a cryptic Twitter posting by Umno lawmaker Khairy Jamaluddin following the exodus of more than a dozen Sabah Umno elected representatives this afternoon.
Responding to a Twitter user who asked if there is anything he could do to stop the defections, Khairy replied: “Trying but there is a 'bangsawan' (elite) faction that is leading the charge to trigger mass defections.”
Trying but there is a bangsawan faction that is leading the charge to trigger mass defections.
Though he did not mention names, sources told Malaysiakini this was in reference to Hishammuddin.
"It's definitely him. But he (Hishammuddin) doesn't have the guts to do it (quit Umno) himself.
"Just like he didn't have the guts to contest during the party elections. He preferred to stay on the sidelines like some 'Yoda' doing side deals with the government of the day," said one party leader on condition of anonymity.
The leader claimed that Hishammuddin is likely being "taken for a ride" by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Malaysiakini is attempting to contact Hishammuddin for a response.
Another party source, who also declined to be named, outlined what he claimed to be the two possible scenarios of Hishamuddin's “game plan”.
“He wants to show Mahathir that he can bring MPs over and hence demand for a senior cabinet position even deputy prime minister. Help to further the anti-Anwar Ibrahim agenda whilst gaining for himself. He really sees himself as a future prime minister.
“Alternatively, he would ride in like the white knight and contest for the Umno presidency later. Both options explain why he has been quiet on all fronts. He doesn't want to be seen as rocking the boat saying difficult things about party reform. Neither does he want to attack the government at all,” he added.
The party leader accused Hishammuddin of deliberately shifting the attention to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's weak leadership.
“So people would miss the elephant in the room. Which is that he wants to bring people to cross over for his own ambitions,” he added.
However, another Umno insider rubbished the allegations against Hishammuddin, claiming that certain quarters, including those aligned to Zahid, have their daggers out for him.
"Hishammudddin won't quit Umno. He meets with Umno MPs to give them support and calm them down.
"The president's people keep saying Hishammuddin wants to take people out of Umno... but the truth is that he is trying to help the president so that MPs don't quit," he added.
Hishammuddin is the grandson of Umno founder Onn Jaafar, and the son of the country's third prime minister Hussein Onn.
He is also the cousin of former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak. - Mkini
Hishammuddin is the grandson of Umno founder Onn Jaafar, and the son of the country's third prime minister Hussein Onn.
He is also the cousin of former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak. - Mkini
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