Behind the songs and decorations at the wedding of Mohd Shafie Apdal's son yesterday, something appeared visibly different at the grand occasion.

The wedding was missing several top guns that is customary when the children of senior Umno politicians of Shafie's stature tie the knot.

Despite being a founding member of Sabah Umno, Shafie's party colleagues from the state were nowhere to be seen at the wedding which was held at Shangri-la Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The senior Sabah Umno leaders that were absent include ministers Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak, both fierce defenders of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( photo ).

Najib himself, along with his deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, was also absent.

The ministers who did turn up at the wedding banquet were those who have chosen to keep a low profile and had not actively defended Najib from several scandals plaguing him.

Among them include Khairy Jamaluddin, Idris Jusoh and Mustapa Mohamed.

Shafie, together with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, were in July dropped from the government for being critical of Najib's handling of 1MDB, which is struggling to repay its US$11 billion debt.

Najib is also facing calls to step down over the discovery of RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts.

He has denied taking public funds for personal gain while his supporters claim the massive deposits were a "political donation" from the Middle East.

Warm reception for Muhyiddin

Having suffered the same fate as Shafie, the warm reception extended to Muhyiddin at the wedding was expected.

As Muhyiddin ( photo ), who is still Umno deputy president, exited the wedding hall, guests were keen to shake his hand or catch a photograph with him.

This political divide was not only at the top but also seen at the grassroots level.

Wanita Umno leader Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, a staunch Najib supporter, was also absent from the wedding.

"We understand that people are busy," said an aide of Shafie, with a knowing smile.

The aide told Malaysiakini that an invitation was sent to all ministers and deputy ministers.

He noted that while some said they could not attend, others did not respond. There were those who had confirmed their attendance but cancelled at the last minute.

However, he said, Shafie was not slighted by the snub.

"He told his officers not to force anyone to come, if the ministers do not want to respond, let it be," said the aide.

Not everyone distanced themselves

Despite the snub, some 1,100 people still attended the wedding even though the target was 800.

The aide said not everyone had distanced themselves from Shafie after he was dropped as rural and regional development minister.

For example, he said most of the Selangor Umno leadership still turned up. Shafie is still the Umno vice-president.

Several other eminent figures also graced the function, including Perlis Raja Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail and spouse Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid, as well as Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud and wife Ragad Waleed Alkurdi.

Others present were former ministers Syed Hamid Albar, Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, Sanusi Junid and Effendi Nawawi.

Shafie's son Mohd Shazwi tied the knot with Siti Aimira Suhaidi.