Muhyiddin: What sin have I committed?

Umno deputy president asks whether the party fears things he says in his speech will make the younger generation lose confidence in one of their leaders.

PETALING JAYA: Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed his sadness at being denied the chance to deliver his “most important’ speech to members of Umno’s various wings, now that the party has decided the respective leaders would officiate at the openings of the meetings themselves.

Expressing his feelings about this new development that flies in the face of Umno tradition, Muhyiddin asked what big mistake had he committed to warrant his being denied the opportunity to deliver his speeches as he had done in the past.

“What sin have I committed towards the party so much so that the annual tradition of having the deputy president deliver his speech is denied me this year,” he wrote in a statement posted on Facebook.

He also asked whether Umno was afraid that he may say something in his speeches that would erode the confidence of the younger generation in their leader.

He said that delivering his speeches meant a lot to him in his capacity as Umno deputy president as it was his only opportunity to share his dreams and hopes for the party going forward.

“It is a very important speech for party members, to share my dreams and hopes for the party to continue into the future.

“It seems that I will not have another opportunity to convey my message in a ceremony that means the world to me as party deputy president.”

He also said that while he respected the decision to have the leaders of the respective wings officiate at the opening ceremony this year, Malaysia was a free country and he could not be silenced.

“I will continue to speak the truth. My purpose in Umno is not to defend any individual but to protect the religion, the race and our beloved country,” he said.

Umno president Najib Razak announced yesterday that Muhyiddin would not be officiating the opening of the meetings of Umno wings when the party’s general assembly takes place next month.

Instead, he said the meetings held by the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings this year will be officiated by the respective heads of the wing.