Muhyiddin calls for reform, says rejecting Najib alone not enough

Suspended Umno deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin today acknowledged that the "black episode" of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's financial scandals and his struggle to stay in office have made people be more matured, and stressed the need for reforms in the country.

He said the mere rejection of Najib was not enough and changes to the country's laws and political institutions are needed.

"I think the black episode happening in Malaysia is making us more mature.

"If we want to see Malaysia return to a respected country where the rakyat can live a more prosperous life, we need to be prepared to demand for changes.

"It is not just to demand the prime minister to step down but to reject a political institution that has failed to fulfil the aspirations of the rakyat.

"Set aside racial, religious and ideological sentiments to get rakyat's consensus towards forming a government that is just, trustworthy and with integrity," he said in a statement this morning.

The statement came after the Umno supreme council yesterday suspended Muhyiddin as party deputy president for his criticism of Najib.

Muhyiddin's acknowledgement for institutional changes is significant as the opposition has in the past refused to aid the dissenting Umno faction for fear it is only interested in removing Najib and retaining the same system.

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli had previously said that the opposition may only consider joining forces if the dissenting Umno faction was interested in genuine institutional changes.

[More to follow]

-Mkini