Following Muhyiddin Yassin's ouster as deputy prime minister, there is now speculation that he may also be purged as Umno deputy president.
Umno blogger Shahbudin Husin said this may be decided in the Umno supreme council meeting this Friday, which is expected to be an awkward one between Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and Muhyiddin.
"If Muhyiddin's criticism of the prime minister and 1MDB was used as a basis to drop him as deputy prime minister, then it is not impossible that it can also be used to accuse Muhyiddin of tarnishing the party's and president's good name in front of Umno members.
"Therefore, if a motion to sack Muhyiddin is brought to the Umno supreme council this Friday, it is likely to be passed by the majority, due to the mood of the council members now largely supportive of Najib following the cabinet reshuffle," Shahbudin said.
On Sunday, Muhyiddin had lamented that Najib refused to heed any of his advice on trying to resolve the 1MDB scandal.
Following this, Najib yesterday announced a cabinet reshuffle, in which Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi replaced Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister.
Shahbudin said Najib would want to get rid of Muhyiddin as Umno deputy chief as the latter will continue to sit in party meetings and play a prominent role.
"For Muhyiddin, he would probably have no problem attending the monthly Umno supreme council meetings or the annual general assemblies. As someone removed (from the government), it will be his chance to stand out and garner sympathy from those present.
"But for Najib, who ousted his deputy to secure his own position as prime minister and in 1MDB, he does not need Muhyiddin to continue being by his side in whatever party affairs," Shahbudin said.
Furhermore, he pointed out, Najib now has a new number two in the government, in the form of his close aide Zahid ( photo ).
Shahbudin said all eyes are now on Friday's Umno supreme council meeting on whether they will use the same reason that cost Muhyiddin his deputy prime minister's job to get rid of him as Umno deputy president.
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