Muhyiddin: I’ve never shirked my responsibilities as Najib’s deputy

PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says he has never once shirked his responsibilities as Umno deputy president, especially when it comes to helping party leader Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak discharge his duties.

“I appreciate the president’s reminder that the responsibility of the deputy president under Umno’s constitution is to help the president.

“That is what I have done all this while,” said the former deputy prime minister in response to Najib’s policy speech at the Umno general assembly on Thursday.

Muhyiddin explained that he had helped Najib mobilise Umno and BN during the general election, by-elections as well as helping him ensure the smooth management and administration of Umno, among other party issues.

“The mandate to help the President – never did I ignore that,” he said.

Entrance: Muhyiddin arriving at the general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

He said that as Umno deputy president, he had heard complaints from grassroots on issues related to the president and had advised Najib to listen to them and resolve the situation.

Muhyiddin said after doing this, he was excluded and barred from performing his tasks and responsibilities as deputy president.

“In Islam, we are required to be obedient and loyal to the leader,” he said.

He added that this was mentioned in Najib’s keynote speech.

“Leaders who must be obeyed are leaders who obey the commands of Allah, are trustworthy, honest, with integrity and clean, as well as keep away from wrongdoing,” he said.

He expressed his hope that the debates taking place during the Umno general assembly would touch on the important matters that would “bring back the rakyat’s trust in Umno”.

“Debate with honesty, sincerity and truth,” he added.