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Battle indicator - DPM gets big welcome tonight?
Published:  Jun 2, 2015 1:17 PM
Updated: 7:53 AM

After Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak told ministers who disagree with him on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) matter to resign, the focus is now on his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin has, on several occasions, broken ranks with his boss on the debt-laden firm, with the latest being his widely exposed speech on the 1MDB fiasco at a closed-door Umno meeting in his home state of Johor.

In his speech, a video recording of which has since gone viral on the social media, the deputy prime minister called for the 1MDB directors to be sacked and investigated.

Muhyiddin also lamented that he informed Najib about this, but nothing transpired.

The deputy prime minister has been on leave since May 26, and was not present at last Friday's cabinet meeting, at which Najib called on ministers dissenting with him on the 1MDB issue to quit.

Muhyiddin is slated to return tonight from an overseas trip, and Umno blogger Shahbudin Husin is expecting a "big event" at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"It is inevitable that Muhyiddin's return would be a big event which would draw the attention of many, especially Umno members, who want to know his real stand.

"News of his return has been circulating on the social media and Whatsapp groups since last night, calling on people to come to the airport to welcome him.

"Posters were also created to draw in the crowd to welcome back the leader who is considered as the one who can save Umno and BN," he wrote in his blog.

Who dares to welcome Muhyiddin?

Shahbudin also said the information chief in the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Tosrin Jarvanti, has been sending text messages to friends and supporters about the "big event".

Based on the ongoing campaign against Najib, the blogger does not discount the possibility of a large turnout.

"Would Muhyddin make an important announcement at KLIA? Would there be a new chapter in the Umno struggle, especially related to the relationship between Muhyiddin and Najib?

"How many ministers, deputy ministers and Umno leaders would dare to be present to welcome Muhyiddin?" Shahbudin asked.

The deputy prime minister is expected to arrive at 9pm.

Previously, Utusan Malaysia quoted unnamed sources that Najib issued the ultimatum to his cabinet members following the announcement of a restructuring plan for 1MDB.

However, Culture and Tourism Minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz denied this, telling Malaysiakini that Najib merely informed the cabinet that it needs to stand together, and the atmosphere of the meeting was not tense either.

Separately, PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar raised the question whether Najib would sack Muhyiddin over the 1MDB issue, since he has the right to reshuffle the cabinet and even sack ministers who oppose him.

"Would Najib dare sack his deputy, or what the prime minister really wants is for the entire cabinet to stand firm and support him in covering up 1MDB's excesses.

"This 1MDB issue is getting worse, and if Najib drags his feet and fails to handle it, then he needs to prepare to face the music from the rakyat when the 14th general election comes," he said in a statement today.

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