KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — A Perak Umno division has cancelled at the last minute its invitation to have Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir open the conference of all its three wings later today.
Malay news website Suara quoted the Tanjung Malim Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib saying the move was to preserve party unity and political peace following Mukhriz’s reportedly controversial speech at the Cheras Umno meeting last weekend.
“I have discussed with the wing chiefs and we have unanimously decided to cancel our invitation to Datuk Seri Mukhriz and replace him with Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir to officiate the conference for the Women, Youth and Puteri movements.
“This decision is to ensure the peaceful political atmosphere in Tanjung Malim because we do not want any element that can divide public support towards president Datuk Seri Najib Razak,” Khusairi was quoted saying in Bahasa Malaysia.
The Perak division chief reportedly said Mukhriz had agreed to attend its division meeting which kicks off tomorrow, but the grassroots leaders all decided to cancel their invitation to the son of former prime minister-turned-government critic Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“Among the main factors are because of Mukhriz’s speech during the simultaneous officiation of the Cheras Umno wings the other day because we find that such a speech could raise confusion among Umno members, especially the delegates,” Khusairi was quoted saying.
He added that he had a responsibility and did not want to risk a schism in future elections for Tanjung Malim.
“We are not ready to face any element that can split voters.
“Furthermore, the Umno divisional leaders and members are firmly with Datuk Seri Najib as prime minister and [party] president,” he was quoted saying.
The snub towards Mukhriz follows the axing of Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from Cabinet Tuesday following the latter’s call for Najib to explain fully the controversies surrounding his debt-hobbled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) brainchild.
The soft-spoken Mukhriz was reported by The Star Online saying leaders should not “shoot the messenger” during the Cheras Umno division meet last Saturday, though it was unclear if he was referring to any specific event.
“If this happens all the time, eventually people will be afraid to speak up. They will soon get tired, and the leader will need to resolve the problem on their own.
“Instead, we should investigate. We should thank them because they care for their leaders and are relaying unhappy news to save the situation,” Mukhriz was quoted saying by The Star Online then.
Mukhriz, who is also an Umno supreme council member, has decline to comment on his remarks since.
However, he has been spotted visiting the home of Muhyiddin in Damansara Heights here where the latter has been holding private conversations with several other veteran Umno leaders, fuelling speculations of a leadership schism in the country’s largest political party.
