Umno growing more intolerant, says veteran lawmaker

Tan Sri Shahrir Samad says Umno should be more open to criticism from members, amid talk that the party will suspend deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ahead of its general assembly. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 1, 2015.

Umno should be more open to criticism from members, Tan Sri Shahrir Samad said today, amid talk that the party will suspend deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin ahead of its general assembly.

The veteran lawmaker and Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club (BNBBC) chief said Umno members, including those in the supreme council, had grown “more intolerant”, The Star Online reported.

He reportedly said these members were forcing others to accept their views, and those who did not were considered in the wrong and branded cowards.

“Good leaders must be willing to accept views and critics from the grassroots members and you could not force others to accept or agree only to your opinions,” Shahrir was quoted as saying in Johor Baru today.

He reminded party members not to act as if the party belonged to certain people, but instead allow it to function as an organisation.

He also called on the top leaders to practise moderation so that Umno remained relevant, and to accommodate the opinions and criticism of other party members.

“Moderation in Umno what keeps the party going for many years and all party's members must uphold to the principle,” Shahrir was quoted as saying.

Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak reshuffled the Cabinet in July, in a bid to neutralise critics in the government, dropping Muhyiddin and another vice-president, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

- TMI