Reinstate Muhyiddin as DPM, Kluang UMNO Youth division chief tells Najib

KUALA LUMPUR — Unhappy with Mr Muhyiddin Yassin’s removal from the Cabinet, an UMNO Youth division leader has called on Prime Minister Najib Razak to listen to the voices of party members and reinstate Muhyiddin as the deputy prime minister (DPM).

Kluang division UMNO Youth chief Azizul Ali, in a statement ahead of Muhyiddin’s visit to the party’s branch in Kluang today (Aug 2), said Mr Najib should observe UMNO’s tradition when it comes to the appointment of top leaders in government.

“It has always been UMNO's tradition that the party’s deputy president is the deputy prime minister. Meaning that DPM is the deputy president chosen by the party members."

He said although the power to determine the DPM’s position lies with the PM, Mr Azizul said the driving force behind such prerogative has always been guided by the decision of the party.

“Why is Datuk Seri Najib ignoring the voices of the 145,000 Umno delegates who voted for Tan Sri Muhyiddin before?

“Is this what he called the party being in control of the government?” he asked.

Mr Azizul said the division Youth wing demanded that Mr Najib, the party president to respect the will of the members by returning the DPM post to Mr Muhyiddin.

“If the honourable president could not respect the will of the party members, we fear that members will lose their respect to the honourable president,” he said.

He added that it would be unfortunate if Umno members began losing their respect for the party president following the latest development in the party and nation.

Mr Azizul’s statement came just two days after two state Umno Youth leaders resigned from their positions on Friday in reaction to Mr Muhyiddin’s sacking.

They were Mr Asrul Esreen Mohd Salleh and Mr Saiful Zakry Ripin. Both were Tenggara UMNO Youth division committee members.

Yesterday, Johor UMNO Youth demanded that party leadership and the new Cabinet to be more aggressive in explaining issues to the grassroots, following Mr Muhyiddin’s sacking.

State wing chief Hahasrin Hashim said the perception problem caused by issues, namely the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal that has brought so much confusion to the people, have now affected the support of fence sitters and UMNO members.

Mr Hahasrin also heads the Tenggara Umno Youth division.

Mr Muhyiddin’s sacking as the DPM and also education minister earlier this week came after he openly questioned and criticised Mr Najib over his handling of the controversial 1MDB issue.

Mr Hahasrin also said the Tenggara UMNO Youth wing was disappointed with the various perceptions that followed the Cabinet reshuffle although the youth members accepted Mr Najib’s decision since it was his prerogative.

He said the wing also agrees that Muhyiddin and party vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal, who was also sacked from the Cabinet, should remain to be respected by party members as they still kept their party positions. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER