Party positions temporary, says Zahid in veiled dig at Muhyiddin

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks during the launch of Putrajaya Umno delegates meeting today. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, August 26, 2015. 

Umno leaders should remember that their positions are temporary and what matters most is ensuring that the party remains strong, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in what appeared to be a veiled attack at Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Zahid, a party vice-president, told delegates from the Putrajaya Umno division today that even if a leader had served for "40 years", they must remember that they had a responsibility to the party and their delegates.

"I am confident that our position whether at the branch, division, state and, especially, the national level is temporary, even if we have served in the party for 40 years.

"'Tapi janganlah apabila panas setahun hujan sehari' (But do not let one rainy day cloud a year of sunny days)," Zahid said when launching the division's annual general meeting in Putrajaya tonight.

Although he mentioned no names, his warning comes hours after Muhyiddin issued a statement reminding critics that he had served the party for over 40 years.

Muhyiddin had told his detractors not to label him a traitor or urge for him to step down, and cited his long years spent building the party up.

The former deputy prime minister was sacked from his cabinet post last month after being openly critical of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership and handling of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and was succeeded by Zahid.

Muhyiddin also said that he would not back down from defending Umno.

But Zahid tonight said that while differing opinions were welcomed, they must be aired with wisdom and kindness.

"Don't blame others... don't assume others are acting unjust to you when in fact you are being unjust to yourself," he said.

He urged Umno not to destroy the party from within, as it was the only institution left that could protect the Malays.

Muhyiddin, who also lost his post as education minister in addition to deputy prime minister, is still the party deputy president.

He said it was his concerns for the country that was pushing him to relentlessly remind his friends in government to take immediate corrective action amid mounting criticism of Najib's leadership, unanswered questions over 1MDB's scandals, and economic problems with the ringgit, which is at its lowest against the US dollar in 17 years.

- TMI