'Hold GE or be sacked' - conflicting accounts of Umno's 'ultimatum' for PM

Editor’s note: The article has been amended to reflect Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan's denial.

Conflicting accounts have emerged on what transpired at the Umno political bureau meeting on Wednesday (Aug 24), a day after former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak failed to overturn his conviction and prison sentence.

According to one Umno and government source, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was purportedly told to hold the general election as soon as possible or be sacked from the party.

However, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan...