Muhyiddin can’t be sacked as Umno deputy chief, says Nazri

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin cannot be sacked as Umno deputy president as he was elected by party members, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (pic).

As such, Umno will have to wait until the party elections, where new Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will very likely go for the post, said the Umno Supreme Council member.

“Nothing can be done unless Muhyiddin resigns … He cannot be sacked as he was elected by the delegates … If he doesn’t leave there is a likelihood that Zahid will go after him. I expect Zahid to do so,” Nazri told The Star Online from Milan where he is on a working trip. 

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak dropped Muhyiddin and four other ministers from his Cabinet.

Nazri who is also the Tourism and Culture minister admitted there might be problems in the party following Tuesday’s announcement but said that Najib’s move to pick Zahid as deputy prime minister was the right one as he is a popular figure in the party.

“Zahid’s first role is to help consolidate the party. I think he can do it. He is popular and likable. He has no enemies except those who are envious of him,” said Nazri.

He added the Muhyiddin had it coming as he had tried instigating Umno members at the Cheras Umno division meeting on Sunday.

“Even when we were talking about Justo’s arrest in Thailand and the possibility that the write-ups were false, he didn’t seem to be very happy. I don’t understand,” said Nazri adding that Muhyiddin should have waited for the special task force on 1MDB to do its job.

He said that if Muhyiddin disagreed with Najib, he should have left on his own.

Nazri added that he was thankful to Najib for being retained in the Cabinet as there were rumours that he was going to be dropped.