The Malay daily Utusan Malaysia today published a front page headline on Mukhriz Mahathir, about the possibility he will be replaced as the mentri besar.
The report also hinted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak needs time to consider the matter, especially weighing how it will effect the upcoming 14th general election.
It quoted an unnamed source who was present when Kedah Umno rebels - led by deputy state party chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah - met Najib, who is the Malay party's president, yesterday.
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The rebels, led by Ahmad Bashah along with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom and Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid - had met with Najib at about 5pm yesterday. The meeting lasted for just half an hour before the Umno president left.
The state Umno is in turmoil after Ahmad Bashah declared that the party no longer had confidence in Mukhriz as Kedah MB.
Well. That's what Utusan says. Criticis, however, cautioned PM and others that Mukhriz is still getting the majority support from Kedahans, and any move to oust him will be 'very, very damaging' to Putrajaya and Umno itself.
Unless....yes, unless Mukhriz is given a 'replacement position' with the Federal Cabinet, it would help cool off things. A minister? His last Federal position was Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.
And while some quarters were expecting Umno to quash the rebellion, sec-gen Tengku Adnan Mansor said no disciplinary action will be taken against the 14 Umno division heads in Kedah who expressed dissatisfaction with Mukhriz Mahathir as menteri besar.
He said the 14 divisional leaders had acted according to the party constitution because they only voiced their dissatisfaction with Mukhriz, who is also head of Kedah Umno, and left a decision on him entirely to the party president.
“They voiced their unhappiness with their state liaison head but they said it was up to the party president to decide, they did not pressure him to resign. They followed the constitution, they had a discussion among themselves first before issuing a statement on their dissatisfaction with their liaison head…this is provided for in the Umno constitution,” he said.
Whatever it is, Najib has to find a remedy fast.
I don't quite approve accusation that Najib and Umno were behind the mutiny as part of the 'punishment' for Tun Dr Mahathir, Mukhriz's father who as been Najib's biggest critic of late, with the former premier demanding for his resignation.
As the saying goes, 'ibarat menarik rambut dari tepung; rambut tak putus, tepung tak berselerak', I guess Najib cannot discount the fact that if it happened in Kedah, it could also happen in Pahang, Terengganu and other Umno-rule states... and also Putrajaya!
The report also hinted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak needs time to consider the matter, especially weighing how it will effect the upcoming 14th general election.
It quoted an unnamed source who was present when Kedah Umno rebels - led by deputy state party chief Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah - met Najib, who is the Malay party's president, yesterday.
"The prime minister acknowledged that this is what has been voiced out by the division leaders in Kedah. He asked to be given time to come up with a decision, as any action taken must take into account the impact it will have on the upcoming 14th general election.
"Other than that, he also called for state Umno leaders to remain loyal, especially when his decision is announced in the next few days," the source reportedly said.When met by reporters after their meeting, the Kedah Umno rebel leadership had kept mum, rushing off to their cars and leaving the venue of the meet.
The state Umno is in turmoil after Ahmad Bashah declared that the party no longer had confidence in Mukhriz as Kedah MB.
Well. That's what Utusan says. Criticis, however, cautioned PM and others that Mukhriz is still getting the majority support from Kedahans, and any move to oust him will be 'very, very damaging' to Putrajaya and Umno itself.
Unless....yes, unless Mukhriz is given a 'replacement position' with the Federal Cabinet, it would help cool off things. A minister? His last Federal position was Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry.
And while some quarters were expecting Umno to quash the rebellion, sec-gen Tengku Adnan Mansor said no disciplinary action will be taken against the 14 Umno division heads in Kedah who expressed dissatisfaction with Mukhriz Mahathir as menteri besar.
He said the 14 divisional leaders had acted according to the party constitution because they only voiced their dissatisfaction with Mukhriz, who is also head of Kedah Umno, and left a decision on him entirely to the party president.
“They voiced their unhappiness with their state liaison head but they said it was up to the party president to decide, they did not pressure him to resign. They followed the constitution, they had a discussion among themselves first before issuing a statement on their dissatisfaction with their liaison head…this is provided for in the Umno constitution,” he said.
Whatever it is, Najib has to find a remedy fast.
I don't quite approve accusation that Najib and Umno were behind the mutiny as part of the 'punishment' for Tun Dr Mahathir, Mukhriz's father who as been Najib's biggest critic of late, with the former premier demanding for his resignation.
As the saying goes, 'ibarat menarik rambut dari tepung; rambut tak putus, tepung tak berselerak', I guess Najib cannot discount the fact that if it happened in Kedah, it could also happen in Pahang, Terengganu and other Umno-rule states... and also Putrajaya!