Muhyiddin should have quit Umno a long time ago, Puad Zarkashi says

(Malay Mail Online) – Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said that party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should have resigned from his post a long time ago for failing to uphold the party Constitution.

Mohd Puad added it was obvious that Muhyiddin was trying to weaken the party through sabotage and provocation.

“The former deputy prime minister should have resigned a long time ago after failing to fulfil his responsibilities stated in the party constitution. He must support the party and government policies collectively,” he was quoted telling Malay language daily Berita Harian.

He added that he agreed with fellow council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz’s recent statement that the supreme council should take action against Muhyiddin.

Mohd Puad also labelled Muhyiddin dishonest for allegedly failing to live up to his own promises to the supreme council that he would always side with the party.

“If he is an honest person, he should bring the issues that he has brought up, along with the evidence, to the supreme council meetings. All this while, he has not proven anything he has brought up but instead only raising questions in provocative ways,” he said.

“I challenge him, if he dares, bring the issues up in the supreme council meeting this Friday. Bring anything, including the 1MDB case and show to the council the proof that he has,” he added, referring to 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Mohd Puad said he was not sure if Muhyiddin intends to take over as party president and prime minister, though he said it was clear that the latter wants to remove Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I don’t know for sure, but it is a possibility he wants to be the nation’s and the party’s number one. But, what is the easiest to say of it (sic), is he wants to topple Najib,” he said.

“The evidence is clear in his disciplinary violations and it is fair for action to be taken against him. If he is a man who is brave and with principles, resign.”

Muhyiddin was last year removed from his post as deputy prime minister in a federal Cabinet reshuffle, ostensibly over his criticism of the administration’s handling of the 1MDB controversy.

He was later barred from addressing delegates at the 69th Umno general assembly last year, despite having done so throughout his tenure as its deputy president.