‘They want to oust Najib before GE’

According to a PAS leader, the top guns in Umno consider Najib a liability.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: There is a move within Umno to oust Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak before the next general election, said PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali.

Quoting Umno sources, he said Najib is aware of the mutiny.

“But he refuses to step down,” he added.

Mustafa claimed that some top guns in Umno consider Najib a liability due to various issues such as the Scorpene submarine scandal.

“Wait for another one or two weeks. You”ll see it more clearly,” he said.

Yesterday, FMT reported that an organisation comprising former Umno MPs known as Penawar had voiced its lack of confidence in Najib and wanted the Umno president to step down.

Asked on who was leading the rebel faction, Mustafa claimed that he was not sure.

“All I know is that it is not psychological warfare, it (the threat) is real and many people are behind the move. Umno is afraid of losing in the next polls,” he said.

Who will succeed Najib?
On Najib’s successor should the mutiny succeed, the PAS leader said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin would be the next in line, but that depended on the discretion of the King.

“It can even be (Umno veteran) Tengku Razaleigh (Hamzah) as he is also an MP (Gua Musang).

“Though the King cannot sack a sitting prime minister, His Majesty can decide on the appointment. So anything can happen,” he said.

Speculation is rife that Muhyiddin, with the blessings of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has set his sights on the top post with the condition that Mahathir’s son, Mukhriz, is elevated.

Mukhriz, who was defeated in his bid to become Umno Youth chief in the last party polls is currently the deputy minister for international trade and industry.

Muhyiddin, on the other hand, cannot afford to allow the 58-year-old Najib to continue for another five-year term given that he is already 64.

Taken from Free Malaysia Today

Posted in: UMNO