Puteri Umno chief slams Muhyiddin for negative statements

PETALING JAYA: Puteri Umno has hit out at deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for making statements showing his lack of support for the party president.

“The responsibility of an Umno leader is to give respect and loyalty to the rules and the party constitution itself,” said Puteri chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (pic).

She said by making several statements against Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Muhyiddin was creating a negative atmosphere in the party.

“It clearly evokes a reaction from several Umno leaders and encourages all sorts of speculation among party members themselves towards Umno’s number two,” said Mas Ermieyati in a statement on Wednesday.

She added that although Umno had never prevented any criticism or advice against other leaders in order to safeguard the party’s stability, it was important for such things to be done through the proper channels and accompanied by discussions that were open for all to state their opinions democratically

“Speculation regarding any decision that will be made during the Umno supreme council meeting on Friday should be stopped,” added Mas Ermieyati.

She called for a mature solution to the party’s internal conflict, not one that was “cancerous” or could destroy the trust of its own members.

Mas Ermieyati also said that young people today wanted unity within the party and are fed-up with what was happening and with the behaviour of older members.

She said that the most important thing now is the party’s mission to strengthen the confidence of the rakyat towards Umno following recent decisions concerning Najib by several bodies including by Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali.

On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said also criticised Muhyiddin’s lack of support toward Najib.

Azalina, who is an Umno supreme council member, said Muhyiddin's actions are an example of bad leadership at the grassroots level.