Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has noted a need for the party to reel in its own leaders from attacking others in government.
Specifically, Asyraf was asked to respond to Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi's remarks against PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli's performance as minister in charge of managing the economic portfolio.
"This is, among others, what we have to contain and manage.
"There is no point if we keep on attacking each other. Shoot our own foot to please certain quarters of society," Asyraf (above) said during a press conference at the Umno headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
"When we form the government, it is a collective responsibility. It is not a one-man show; we need to put a stop to the blame game," he said.
On Wednesday, Puad claimed Rafizi's perceived lacklustre performance in managing the economic portfolio has led to speculation of an impending cabinet reshuffle.
Rafizi, in response to Puad, urged Umno leaders to refrain from making comments that would push Pakatan Harapan supporters away as they will also rely on votes from Harapan supporters in the upcoming state polls.
Meanwhile, on the return of former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad, Asyraf said Umno remains to be a party open to all who wish to offer their contributions, including any of its former leaders.
"We realised in today's reality we cannot stop any parties so long as they contribute to strengthening Umno.
"As a former menteri besar with vast experience and close relations with Umno, maybe that can be a contribution," said Asyraf.
Isa, 74, a former MP for Jempol, quit Umno in October 2018 to contest in the Port Dickson parliamentary by-election because the party did not field a candidate. His son, Mohd Najib, is currently the Port Dickson Umno deputy chief.
Isa contested as an independent candidate in a seven-cornered contest that eventually saw Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's return to Parliament after being released from prison.
The former federal territories minister was suspended from Umno for six years in 2005 after the party's disciplinary board found him guilty of three counts of bribing delegates in his bid to win one of the three vice-president posts at the party polls in the preceding year.
In February 2021, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Isa - a former Felda chairperson - guilty of nine counts of corruption linked to the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak by Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FICSB).
On March 7, the Court of Appeal has reportedly rescheduled the hearing of Isa's appeal against his conviction to June 26, after the appellant requested more time to respond to the prosecution.
'Umno true to its roots'
On another matter, Asyraf described former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin's recent remarks that the party stands to lose more than 50 percent Malay support due to the "anti-DAP" doctrine as "predictions" that will not derail Umno from its main agenda.
"Umno has never diluted the principles of our struggle and agenda, as enshrined in the constitution.
"We are the custodian of Islam, bumiputera, Malay rulers and Bahasa Malaysia, as stipulated in the constitution," he said.
Asyraf said various changes had occurred since independence, forcing Umno to adapt to the political landscape and scenarios in different eras.
"But in all those adjustments, we never detached ourselves from our principles, and the root of our party, which is as I mentioned, the four pillars," he added.
Khairy had made the remarks in an episode of his podcast, aired following Umno supreme council member Ahmad Maslan's statement urging Umno members to support all parties in government, including the DAP, in the upcoming six state elections. - Mkini
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