Najib summons state UMNO chiefs to Putrajaya this evening

KUALA LUMPUR — Prime Minister Najib Razak has summoned all state UMNO chiefs to Seri Perdana, his official residence in Putrajaya, this evening (July 31), according to English daily The Star.

The meeting, expected to start at 5.30pm, is believed to be a political briefing on current issues, but the daily said there are rumours among the party chiefs that some of them may be replaced following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

“Whatever I know about the Cabinet reshuffle, I know it from the media,” one of them told The Star anonymously.

“We want to ear it from the horse’s mouth. We’ll be all ears … We will also have questions for the PM.”

The paper also quoted Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamad Hasan as saying that the meeting was “timely” as it will provide “a common story board” among Umno leaders at the state level

Mr Mohamad had been in the spotlight recently following accusation that he was the man recorded in a leaked audio clip calling for Mr Najib to be arrested for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy. Mohamad has denied the allegation.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir also told the press yesterday that he was ready to face the consequences following his support for Mr Muhyiddin after the reshuffle.

Mr Mukhriz’s father, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has been a vocal critic of Mr Najib.

Among the issues that are expected to be discussed, besides the Cabinet reshuffle, is the replacement of Mr Abdul Gani Patail as Attorney-General with Mr Mohamed Apandi Ali.

UMNO was supposed to hold a supreme council meeting and closed-door briefing session by party president and Prime Minister Najib on current issues today, but it was cancelled in an announcement by secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor on Wednesday.

The cancellation came following a hastily-convened press conference in Putrajaya on Tuesday, where Mr Najib confirmed rumours that Mr Muhyiddin will be replaced by Mr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, after Mr Muhyiddin’s criticism against Mr Najib’s handling of 1MDB. THE MALAY MAIL ONLINE