Loyalty to top leadership is key in politics - Azalina

UMNO deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin can step down if he does not agree with the practice of the party all this while, said Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Disappointed with Muhyiddin's repeated open criticism against Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Azalina said: "If he truly disagrees with the practice of UMNO all this while, he could step down or even offer to stand for the post of president in the next party election."

Azalina said in a statement that loyalty to the top leadership was key in the practice of any political party.

Azalina, who is also Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said any difference in opinion or view must be made through the proper channel so that there would not be any split in UMNO.

She said that as the number two man in UMNO, Muhyiddin should play the best role possible to enable the party president to perform his task smoothly.

Azalina said the move by Muhyiddin had also given a bad example to the leadership at the grassroots level.

She said Muhyiddin must remember that he was still the Member of Parliament for Pagoh on a Barisan Nasional ticket and it was the BN machinery that had helped her all this while.

According to her, Muhyiddin should remember the deeds of the party and that whatever he did should not weaken and break up the party.

Last Monday, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz urged Muhyiddin to step down if he could no longer discharge the responsibility entrusted to him properly.