Najib, Muhyiddin and the chilly handshake
Images of the handshake between Umno president Najib Abdul Razak and deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin at the end of the Umno general assembly today has spread like wildfire across social media.
The handshake appeared awkward with Muhyiddin only extending his fingers to Najib who held them with both his hands.
Much can be said about the handshake but several senior Umno leaders expressed hope the fragile gesture would mark the beginning of an end to the animosity between both men.
While pundits may debate how meaningful the handshake was, the best gauge would be to hear it from the horses' own mouths.
"We shook hands but that's all [...] we didn't talk," Najib told a press conference after closing the general assembly this evening.
Najib and Muhyiddin shook hands after the party president declared himself a magnanimous man in his winding-up speech and offered his opponents an olive branch.
At the press conference, Najib reiterated that his peace offering was not his own desire but that of the general assembly, and indicated that it was now up to Muhyiddin to reciprocate.
"The message from the assembly which is the party's highest decision-making body, was clear.
"They want peace. This is the wish of the general assembly," he said.
Najib's extrapolation at the press conference, which was held shortly after the handshake, is unlikely to leave delegates brimming with confidence that the worst is over.
#Umno presidents @NajibRazak shake hands with his deputy @MuhyiddinYassin after the winding-up speech @umnoonline pic.twitter.com/xO9ZE0ZwUo
— New Straits Times (@NST_Online) December 12, 2015
And Muhyiddin's response is likely to further deflate any hopes of a quick ceasefire.
Up to rakyat, says No 2
Asked about Najib's 'magnanimous' offer, Muhyiddin merely responded 'good'.
Muhyiddin, however, then took pains to explain that it not an issue of a feud but a matter of principle.
He then indicated that Najib should prove his magnanimity.
"It's good that the president has a big heart.
"After this, I want to see what are the steps he will take to resolve the problems I raised," he said.
Muhyiddin further stressed that he did not have a personal issue with Najib and insisted that there was no need for him to apologise.
He added that the rakyat will be the ones to see if Najib fulfils his promises.
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