KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 – The UMNO Supreme Council (MT) meeting tonight will discuss only issues on the party’s general assembly and will not touch on the position of deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the meeting would only discuss two agenda, which is the norm at every UMNO general assembly, namely the preparation for the general assembly, which is tomorrow, and briefing on the coordination of state speakers.
He said the meeting tonight only has two agenda and no other. He told a joint-media conference with vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here Wednesday. On Muhyiddin’s absence at the presidential briefing last night, Ahmad Zahid said he was informed that the former deputy prime minister was at PWTC, but did not go for the briefing which was held at the Merdeka Hall.
Muhyiddin, who has been vocal in criticising UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue and the RM2.6 billion political fund, had last Monday attended an event at the Sultan Sulaiman Club in Kampung Baru here, and continued to criticise the party leadership and on the issue.
On a statement by UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor that a report on Muhyiddin’s action last Monday would be submitted to the party’s special committee, Ahmad Zahid said the UMNO headquarters would investigate to see whether Muhyiddin had breached the party’s regulations, constitution and code of ethics.
“I don’t think there is a need for UMNO to rush in its action. We listen to the voice of the grassroots, the delegates, and will leave the decision, to be made when the time comes, by the party president. UMNO did not want action to be made “abruptly” because there were matters that needed to be given priority,” said Ahmad Zahid.
Ahmad Zahid and Hishammuddin also refuted an allegation by Muhyiddin and vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal that the issues raised by them were not heeded by the party. He said Muhyiddin and Shafie should be patient because the president has requested for the (six months) grace period, and it should be accepted by everyone, including those who want the matter to be resolved. Meanwhile, he said the explanation has also been made several times.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid and Hishammuddin observed the proceedings at the Wanita, Youth and Puteri assemblies which began today. Ahmad Zahid said he was satisfied with the proceedings at the three party wings which had pledged their support for Najib. He said among issues raised by the three wings were living cost, increase in public transport fares, the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), security and the country’s sovereignty.
