Open war between Najib’s and Muhyiddin’s supporters, says former minister

KUALA LUMPUR – The recent criticism by the United Malays National Organisation’s (UMNO) propaganda man Dr Puad Zarkashi against Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is an indication that an open war has started between supporters of Mr Muhyiddin and Prime Minister Najib Razak, an ex-minister said today (May 23).

Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin said that Mr Najib would have gotten wind of Mr Muhyiddin’s speech in the closed-door meeting, in which he called for the sacking of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) board, regardless of whether the video recording of the speech was leaked.

“Even without the video leaking Muhyiddin would have known that Najib will become aware of his speech, as he delivered the speech in front of ministers and also the Pahang menteri besar,” Mr Zainuddin wrote in his blog Zamkata today.

After the video was leaked, Dr Puad, who heads Putrajaya’s Special Affairs Department (Jasa) called Mr Muhyiddin a “lazy” education minister, and Mr Zainuddin claimed that the order to make the statement was believed to have come from Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

“This is seen as the start of an open war between Muhyiddin and Najib’s supporters following Muhyiddin’s veiled attack against Najib,” Mr Zainuddin said.

Mr Zainuddin also said that in the latest Supreme Council meeting, Dr Puad was among those who were vocal in supporting Mr Najib while Mr Muhyiddin was giving stern warning about the people’s concerns regarding 1MDB.

The video, which appeared on the Apanama blog owned by former newsman Firdaus Abdullah, contained footage of Mr Muhyiddin’s speech calling for the sacking of the 1MDB board at a closed-door UMNO event.

The UMNO deputy president had said this was his advice to Mr Najib, adding he was not against the party president’s leadership.

“The entire 1MDB board should be sacked and the police should be called in to investigate their involvement in the scandal,” Mr Muhyiddin told the UMNO gathering to wide applause.

He also said that he had his “own stand” on certain issues, adding that it was difficult to explain the RM42 billion (S$15.6 billion) debt to the public.

The state owned investment arm is saddled with a RM42 billion debt, and the calls for transparency and answers on its funds has spilled over to senior UMNO leaders themselves, including Mr Muhyiddin and UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER