Umno deputy permanent chairperson Mohamad Aziz has expressed concern over speculation that the Sept 9 supreme council meeting may witness the axing of deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He cautioned that such a move would be unwise.
"The Umno supreme council will hold its meeting on Sept 9 and there is news that the supreme council may suspend or sack Muhyiddin and Shafie.
"If this is true, it would be an unwise decision by the supreme council members and will surely create anger among party members.
"Surely, the decision would create divisions among members and weaken the party," Mohamad said in a statement today.
He added that any such move would go against Umno's slogan of "Bersatu, Bersetia, Berkhidmat (Unity, Loyalty, Service).
Mohamad ( photo ) said it was the supreme council's responsibility to ensure that Umno is well received by the rakyat and it therefore should not take actions that would be detrimental to the party.
"The supreme council must listen to the voice of grassroots party members and the rakyat so as to set Umno on a path that is admired and respected," he added.
He also reminded that Muhyiddin and Shafie were elected by 3.2 million Umno members and their fate cannot be decided by only 40 council members.
Mohamad, who is also the Johor state assembly speaker, was among the first in Umno to speak up for Muhyiddin when the latter was removed as deputy prime minister on July 28.
Muhyiddin and Shafie were removed from the government for their criticism of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's handling of state-owned 1MDB.
Muhyiddin had also revealed, prior to his removal, that he had confronted Najib about the RM2.6 billion deposited into the latter's personal bank accounts.
Earlier today, a message claiming that Muhyiddin and Shafie, along with other leaders opposed to Najib, including Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, might be sacked from the party was circulated.
In a separate report, Umno vice-president and Najib's cousin Hishammuddin Hussein dismissed the speculation.
He described such talk as "baseless", stating that even he had yet to be informed what the agenda for the Sept 9 supreme council meeting would be.
"Besides, the supreme council meeting is a closed-door event. So whatever that is on the agenda for discussing need not be discussed in public.
"So I adviseall not to spread these ridiculous rumours," he is reported as saying.
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