Fears that a riot may break out may have been behind Umno’s decision to move its supreme council meeting to the Parliament compounds tonight, instead of the Umno headquarters less than 3km away, an Umno stalwart suggests.

Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin said this is because a “riot” broke out at the Umno headquarter after then deputy president Anwar Ibrahim was sacked at an Umno supreme council meeting in 1998.

“Maybe the supreme council got wind that a riot (may occur) at the Umno headquarters if (deputy president) Muhyiddin (Yassin) got the sack, just like what happened when Anwar was sacked.

“So the Parliament compound is more secure and easier to control,” he wrote on his blog.

The supreme council meeting is to be held at 6pm today, but Muhyiddin and vice-president Shafie Apdal are not expected to attend because both are overseas.

'Abuse of power'

Muhyiddin and Shafie were sacked from the cabinet in July after they raised questions on state investment firm 1MDB.

“So Umno ignores tradition (by having the meeting elsewhere). If opposition parties can have their meetings in Parliament, then let Umno do it.

“But if you ask me, this sounds like they are using Parliament for protection and this is an abuse of power,” he said.

Public access to Parliament is limited, with only approved members of the public allowed to view the sitting from the public gallery.

Restriction is also imposed on the media, with only three journalists per agency allowed to cover the proceedings.

Anwar was sacked as deputy president after a four-hour supreme council meeting, the day after he was sacked as deputy prime minister and finance minister.

Anwar stormed out of the meeting 15 minutes after he was unanimously voted out, and addressed his supporters gathered in front of Menara Datuk Onn.

It was reported that about 1,000 who had gathered were whipped into a frenzy through heated speeches, while waiting for the meeting to end.

“I know they will continue to shame me in local media, demean me and accuse me of terrible things. I have no choice but to fight this to the end,” Anwar had said, to chants of support.

It was reported that Anwar’s supporters later hurled verbal abuse, water bottles, tin cans, crumpled paper and cigarette butts at Umno supreme council members as they were leaving the building.