Amid calls for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down over the exodus of leaders from the party, one of his lieutenants has fired the first shot.
Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin took to Instagram today to point out one possible way Zahid can be removed as president, despite the latter's insistence on staying put.
"Umno divisions can push for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM)," read his short post, which accompanied a screenshot of a Berita Harian report saying that the Umno constitution can determine the embattled party president's fate.
Zahid said in a statement yesterday that the only way he could be removed from the post is through the party's general assembly.
"The only way is to sack me through the Umno general assembly. It must be attended by two-thirds of the delegates who attended the previous general assembly.
"Do you know how many that is? 146,000 delegates," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
However, the estimated number of delegates that attended the Umno general assembly in late September was just 5,739.
KiniGuide: How to sack an Umno president
According to Article 9.12 of the Umno constitution, members of the supreme council – including the president and deputy president – can be sacked with the support of two-thirds of delegates at an EGM.
Although some say that the article must be read together with amendments to the party's election process – which widened the number of those who can vote to over 146,000 – there is nothing that explicitly differentiates the number of delegates at an EGM and the general assembly.
Meanwhile, former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has also urged for a party supreme council meeting to be immediately convened.
In a tweet, he said the uncertainty and worrisome developments surrounding the party, calls for such measure.
"The grassroots must be assured on every step taken by the leadership to handle the crisis in the party. Do not delay this, the grassroots are counting on it," tweeted the Sembrong MP.
Yesterday, Khairy Jamaluddin – Zahid's rival in the June Umno elections – also pressed for the president to step down.
"Step aside, sir. It's time," he said in a Twitter posting.
Umno was the largest party in the Dewan Rakyat with 54 MPs despite its defeat in the 14th general election.
As of yesterday, it was down to 38 MPs, making it the third-largest party after PKR and DAP.
This is after another 10 MPs quit Umno since Thursday, blaming Zahid for failing to provide direction.
One of those who quit, Larut MP Hamzah Zainuddin, had warned that more would exit the party if Zahid stays in power.