Muhyiddin Yassin may be the number two man in Umno, but images of him are noticeably absent at the Umno annual general assembly.

Save from a minute picture, it is safe to say that there has been a near “blackout” when it comes to the Umno deputy president.

Posters around Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) and images plastered on the walls of the venue feature Umno leaders Najib Abdul Razak, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Hishammuddin Hussein, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Khairy Jamaluddin prominently.

Even former Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s face is plastered clearly.

But this is hardly surprising. Muhyiddin and Umno vice president Shafie Apdal appear to be sidelined by the party after they were removed from cabinet in July following vocal criticism of Najib's brainchild, the state investment firm 1MDB.

The party had even gone against convention by having the chiefs of the party’s wings to officiate their own respective wings’ assemblies.

Traditionally it is the Umno deputy president who officiates at the wings’ assemblies.

Support for Najib

On the other hand, although Umno president Najib may have faced calls calling for his resignation, the party’s three wings today were unanimous in declaring their support for Najib.

Although Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin stressed today that the wing was not betraying anyone when it voiced out issues regarding 1MDB, Khairy still pledged the wing’s support for Najib.

“Believe that we, Umno Youth, are here today to stand beside the president, the central leadership, state, division and branch leaderships, to strengthen the party, to bring back the faith of the people to Umno and not to bring forth its destruction,” he had said.

Umno Wanita was also all for the party president. Its chief, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, said the wing should be at the forefront in giving strength to Najib.

“Let the women become a fortress in defending the party,” she declared.

Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, likewise, expressed the wing’s support for Najib.

The ongoing Umno general assembly is expected to witness some fireworks due to an apparent split in support for Najib and Muhyiddin.

But only time will tell if these differences will escalate into something more.

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