Najib take a swipe back at Muhyiddin on Perkasa

Najib take a swipe back at Muhyiddin on Perkasa

Prime Minister Najib Razak has refuted gently, almost imperceptibly - at his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin for comments made while he was out of town over two important issues - the creation of Chinese and Indian versions of Perkasa and an invitation to PAS to discuss Malay unity with Umno.

Back in the saddle after a short working visit to Brunei, Najib told reporters that relevant groups should not resort to drastic action to champion the interest of any ethnicity as this could trigger tensions and also upset his unifying 1Malaysia platform.

Whilst just a day ago, Muhyiddin had raised eyebrows, renewing long-simmering speculation of a rift with his boss, when he said he saw nothing wrong with people forming a Chinese Perkasa or an Indian Perkasa.

"We cannot restrict any group but we do not want quarrels which can trigger racial sentiments to prevail in our country," Bernama reported Najib as saying on Wednesday.

"We must check this. It is for this reason that I have initiated the 1Malaysia concept of People First, Performance Now to serve as our guide."

Najib needs to keep his deputy in check

Although Najib did not directly chastise Muhyiddin or say that the DPM’s comments could jeopardize his unifying 1Malaysia platform, pundits say the message was clear.

“Najib may be using soft words but he is sending a clear message that he won't go without a fight," a veteran Umno watcher told Malaysia Chronicle..

"His words may be wrapped in lamb's wool but they will be carefully dissected by Muhyiddin’s camp and a reaction can be expected in the days to come. If yesterday was a declaration of war, then today is the confirmation."

Muhyiddin had also surprised the Malay community when he suddenly revived overtures to PAS to “officially or unofficially” discuss Malay unity with Umno.

Again, Najib cushioned his words but made it clear that he was the still boss – both at Umno and of Malaysia.

"I just want to say that Umno is itself strong, and it is not that we are too weak that we have to forge a new friendship with PAS," said Najib, adding that since Muhyiddin had made a statement on the matter, he would not expand on the topic any further.