Dr Mahathir Mohamad's announcement that Mazlan Bujang has been appointed as the new Johor Bersatu chairperson has fuelled speculation of a rift between the party's chairperson and its president, Muhyiddin Yassin, according to an Umno leader.

Mohamed Khaled Nordin described the appointment as a “tremendous slap” for Muhyiddin, which affected both his pride and leadership.

The Umno vice-president noted how Muhyiddin previously said he would announce the new state chairperson soon, which was expected to be done after Hari Raya.

The post fell vacant following Osman Sapian stepping down as menteri besar after 11 months at the helm to be replaced by Dr Shahruddin Jamal, who was sworn in on April 14.

Therefore, Khaled said it came as a shock when Mahathir announced Mazlan, who was just dropped as an exco, as the new state chairperson, on Tuesday.

Furthermore, he claimed that Mazlan (photo, below) is seen as a candidate from a camp which is not on the same page with the current team leading the state administration. According to him, the current team is clearly aligned to Muhyiddin.

“All of this show that Johor Bersatu is divided into various camps or teams.

“Whatever their excuses or answers, what is clear to the people is that Johor Bersatu is facing a cricis and the cracks can no longer be hidden,” Khaled added in a statement this evening.

Mazlan was dropped as an exco during a reshuffle last month, which was reportedly done on the request of Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, despite Mahathir and the cabinet disagreeing.

Mazlan later described the new line-up as Muhyiddin's team.

This then led to claims that Muhyiddin had given the green light to the new menteri besar to revamp the exco.

During an emergency Bersatu meeting which was held on the same night after the new exco line-up was sworn in that morning, sources told Malaysiakini that Muhyiddin had apologised to Mahathir.

It was also said that Mahathir told the supreme council members that he even considered resigning over the issue.

Following this, Muhyiddin's special functions officer Marzuki Mohamad, in a lengthy Facebook posting, claimed that his boss was abroad and not informed of the cabinet's decision on the exco.

He also claimed that an “influential person” offered Muhyiddin the prime minister's post after the May 9 general election but he had turned it down out of respect for Mahathir.

Muhyiddin has also denied that ties between Mahathir and him are strained. He also dismissed claims of different teams in Bersatu.