The Pekan Umno division delegates’ meeting held today completed the series of meeting for 191 Umno divisions, which began on July 27.
Pekan Umno is among the divisions that were allowed to hold its meeting after the deadline of Aug 31, due to the commitment of its chief, Najib Abdul Razak, who is also prime minister and party president.
This year’s delegates' meeting were deemed quite interesting because most of it were held after the July 28 cabinet reshuffle, which saw party deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin was dropped from the cabinet and no longer the deputy prime minister.
The fact that vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was also the rural and regional development minister, was also dropped from the new cabinet line-up had added colour to the meetings this time around.
The development also captured the attention of Umno members and political observers as they were always wondering “who will officially open which division meeting, what will they say or what motion would be tabled at the meeting”.
The appointment of vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the new deputy prime minister had also drew attention.
However, overall, the meetings were held according to schedule and had run smoothly without any untoward incidents.
Speeches and debates mostly touched on economic challenges, political challenges and current issues, with only a few divisions turning the debates into heated argument.
Some party members were also concerned about the speculation that Muhyiddin and Mohd Shafie would be removed from their party posts.
However, they were pacified after Umno supreme council meeting last Wednesday confirmed that the dismissal of the two leaders was not in the agenda.
Muhyiddin and Mohd Shafie were both present at the meeting, and Muhyiddin even sat beside Najib during the press conference after the meeting.
Mohd Shafie also participated in the press conference and sat among the other two party vice-presidents.
The meeting was seen to have enabled top leadership to close ranks, which is indeed a positive development awaited by party members and political observers.
Muhyiddin and Mohd Shafie also expressed their commitment to continue fighting for Umno’s causes even if they were no longer in the government.
- Bernama
Related reports
Najib likens Altantuya murder 'revival' to Saddam ouster
Najib: I help, not buy, Umno divisions
PM Najib seems to be drawing all the bad vibes
Hadi: If a leader turns thief, people will turn robbers
KJ: Warm reception for PM shows youths set aside politics
IGP sets cops on Twitter user for calling him 'Najib's dog'
Najib's Sept 16 choice - Malaysia or red shirts?
Unfortunately for Umnoputras, Al Jazeera is not TV3
