Muhyiddin: I was told I cannot speak at assembly

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he is barred from speaking at the upcoming Umno general assembly.

He has been prevented from giving the customary winding-up speech as Umno deputy president on the last day of the assembly.

“I planned to speak but was told that I can’t.

“I will be a tree stump (tunggul) on the stage. Everyone else can speak but the deputy president can’t,” he said while coming to support nine Telok Kemang Umno branch leaders who were appearing before the party disciplinary board here yesterday.

He said he was also barred from speaking at any of the assemblies by the party’s wings.

He said he would still attend the assembly because he was still the deputy president.

Muhyiddin said he came to support the nine branch leaders because he believed in democracy in the party.

“I respect the voice of the grassroots in the party as they ensure that if the top leaders can’t speak, they will be able to.

“If the top can’t speak and the grassroots members can’t speak, what is the meaning of democracy in Umno today?” he said.

Muhyiddin’s revelation came after Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor’s recent announcement that there was no clause in the party constitution that allowed all leaders to speak at the general assembly.

“In the constitution, there is nothing specific that says a certain individual has to speak. It ends up becoming a competition of who is the best in giving speeches.

“It is not good for my party,” Tengku Adnan was quoted as saying.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also said that each party wing would be officiated by its chief, breaking the party tradition.