Umno Sources Indicate Hidden Caveat For Mps Withdrawing Support For Pm

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Umno may have decided to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin as a party, but its lawmakers will get a say on the matter, sources indicated.
Malaysiakini was made to understand that besides deciding to withdraw support, the Umno supreme council also decided last night that Umno's 38 MPs will be given some leeway on how they vote in the Dewan Rakyat.
This was not mentioned in Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's speech in the early hours of today, and its omission has raised eyebrows among his detractors.
One supreme council member, who was for withdrawing support from Muhyiddin, told Malaysiakini that this leeway was only for voting on Emergency Ordinances.
"Leeway to withdraw support (for Muhyiddin) or not was not stated," the source said on condition of anonymity.
However, another highly-placed Umno source argued that the Dewan Rakyat would be where support for the prime minister would be determined.
"How would you demonstrate support had been withdrawn if not through a vote," the source said.
It is currently unclear how many Umno MPs will adhere to the supreme council's decision to withdraw support for Muhyiddin.
The majority of Umno lawmakers are believed to be aligned to Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Hishammuddin Hussein, who were promoted as deputy prime minister and senior minister, respectively yesterday.




Arau MP Shahidan Kassim
Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, who is a proponent for Umno to remain in the Perikatan Nasional government, told Malaysiakini that the status quo will remain for now.
"PN backbenchers club (PNBBC) MPs and a majority of Umno MPs will continue supporting the government," he said when contacted.
The PNBBC chairperson also said that the Umno supreme council's decision last night was confusing as it indicated that Umno "supported the PN government but did not support the prime minister".
Shahidan, and another Umno rebel MP Annuar Musa, said more clarity was needed on the supreme council's decision.
Malaysiakini was made to understand that the supreme council did not make any decisions compelling Umno ministers to resign from government.
Umno veteran Shahrir Samad had said that the party's ministers need not resign even if they do want Muhyiddin to quit.
Likewise, supreme council member Armand Azha Abu Hanifah revealed that Zahid had consented to Ismail Sabri's appointment as deputy prime minister yesterday.
Meanwhile, Umno may also face challenges in getting its Sabah MPs to withdraw support for Muhyiddin.
Kimanis MP Mohamad Alamin told Malaysiakini that considerations need to be made as Sabah Umno is part of the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) state government together with Muhyiddin's party Bersatu.
"I have to make some considerations, because there's GRS in Sabah.
"For me, Sabah comes first," Mohamad said when contacted.
Despite the potential obstacles, Umno will not need all of its MPs for Muhyiddin to lose majority support.
With Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz supporting Muhyiddin again, Umno needs two MPs to revoke their support for Parliament to be hung and three MPs to rescind their backing for the prime minister to be in the minority. - Mkini

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