The date for Umno’s supreme council meeting is still undecided but despite speculations, party leaders insist it is not because their president is afraid to face the central leadership.

 

Supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz was quick to shoot down any suggestion that party president Najib Abdul Razak is hesitant to meet party bigwigs for fear he will be grilled over 1MDB and the cabinet reshuffle.

 

The issue doesn't arise, argues Nazri, claiming Najib has been cleared by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on corruption.

 

"He has no reason to fear. Everyone knows about (1MDB)," he told Malaysiakini yesterday.

 

The party is said to again postpone its supreme council meeting due to the members showing their displeasure on Najib’s decision to reshuffle the cabinet, as published in The Malaysian Insider .

 

The report, quoting sources, said Umno has yet to decide if the Aug 28 meeting would go on as scheduled.

 

Umno had postponed its July 31 meeting following the cabinet reshuffle to avoid tension among factions.

 

‘Can ask anytime’

 

Nazri, who is the tourism and culture minister, confirmed the party has yet to fix a new date for the meeting.

 

"They can ask the questions anytime - tomorrow or after the supreme council meeting; no problem," he said.

 

"Najib eventually has to call for a party (general) assembly. They can also raise the issue there," said Nazri, who is also Padang Rengas MP.

 

The party does not have to adjourn its meeting for a second time, opined Bung Moktar Radin, a supreme council member.

 

"Now everyone has cooled down after having had some time to think about it," he said.

 

"This is a good time to call for a meeting. Najib is smart; I know he can answer (questions)," said the deputy chairperson of the BN Backbenchers Club.

 

The Kinabatangan MP however expected heated exchange at the meeting, where leaders would raise all kinds of issues related to the removal of Muhyiddin and Shafie Apdal from the cabinet, and 1MDB.

 

He even expected his colleagues to demand the president reveal the identity of the alleged donor of the RM2.6 billion, as well as how the money had been used.

 

To a question if Najib should be frank in addressing the questions thrown at him, he said, "There are no secrets at the supreme council meeting."

 

Najib had hinted that the funds belonged to the party and Umno needed the huge amount to run its machinery.

 

Anina's outburst ‘not disrespectful’

 

In another development, Nazri defended Langkawi Umno delegate Anina Saaduddin's harsh criticism of the party president.

 

The division meeting had turned rowdy when Anina delivered her speech, in which she had used the term “ kencing ” (urinate) to describe Najib having "cheated" Umno members over the RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal accounts.

 

"Umno is a democratic party; she can say what she wants. What's wrong with that?"

 

The vocal minister opined that Anina has not shown disrespect to the leader.

 

"No, she only wants to know the answer," he said.

 

The party is nevertheless mulling action against Anina.