KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 ― There were demands made by some Umno divisions to have Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal censured at the party's general assembly next month for criticising the current leadership but this was rejected by the supreme council, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has revealed.
The Umno secretary-general said these divisions wanted a motion to be prepared and tabled at the assembly on the matter.
“Even though there were divisions who had during meetings stated that they wanted a motion to be brought against the deputy president, vice-president and a former Umno president.
“It was eventually decided that it would not be brought to be discussed (at the assembly),” Tengku Adnan said during an interview with selected media organisations yesterday.
The Umno leader did not reveal the identity of the “former Umno president.”
Yesterday, The Star Online reported that the Gopeng Umno division wanted disciplinary action to be taken against both Muhyiddin and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Division chief Datuk Hamzah Mohd Kassim was quoted saying that a proposal to remove the Umno deputy president and the former prime minister's party membership was actually handed in to the Umno supreme council four months ago by its division members.
Muhyiddin and Shafie were removed from the federal Cabinet late July, ostensibly for questioning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue.
Muhyiddin and Shafie, who remain as Umno deputy president and vice-president, have continued to criticise the party leadership, prompting demands that Umno discipline the duo for their overt attacks.
On Tuesday, Najib announced the party’s decision to sack former Gopeng Wanita Umno chief Datuk Hamidah Osman for violating party rules.
According to Tengku Adnan, Hamidah was sacked for attending an opposition function and not because she had invited Dr Mahathir to speak at a recent event in Ipoh.
Tengku Adnan also revealed that the party had received information that Hamidah had spoken out against the current leadership during the opposition event, although he did not specify further details on the matter.
It was previously speculated that Hamidah was sacked because she had organised a Bicara Negara event at Tower Regency Hotel, Ipoh, during which Dr Mahathir spoke out against Najib and criticised him over several issues including 1MDB.
