Former Umno supreme council member Ahmad Shabery Cheek said in a Facebook posting that Parliament House and the Dewan Merdeka were the two places that were most feared in the past by those who held government positions.

“In Parliament, we had to be ready to be attacked by our opponents. But in the Dewan Merdeka, during the Umno general assembly, the attacks were from our friends and were even more formidable,” he said.

He recalled the fierce debates that arose over the AP issue of car import permits, involving then trade minister Rafidah Aziz and her family, and the issue of taxi permits involving the late Napsiah Omar, a former minister and deputy Wanita Umno leader.

“Having to answer in front of nearly three thousand delegates who are judging a minister’s every word and motion – it can stop the heartbeat,” said Ahmad Shabery.

“Will Dewan Merdeka become the people’s parliament? Wait until next week.”

Umno is scheduled to hold its general assembly of delegates at the end of March. The meeting is usually held at Dewan Merdeka, at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.