Stop speaking of democracy if freedom of speech is restricted - Tun M

UMNO’s decision to allow its three party wings – Wanita, Youth and Puteri – assemblies to be officiated by its respective chiefs is aimed at preventing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from speaking, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The party’s former president believes that the action is taken due to the Deputy President’s continuous criticism of the party’s leadership.

“This is a proof that they do not follow the rules and traditions of the party because this individual (Muhyiddin) who is thought to disagree with UMNO is actually disagreeing with Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Muhyiddin however has to attend and sit on top. Based on protocols, Muhyiddin is number two after the President.

“I hope the speaker will give him the opportunity to speak if he wants to do so. If not we do not have to speak about democracy,” said Dr Mahathir during a press conference held after the closing ceremony of the KL Summit 2015 at Hotel Istana.

The UMNO Supreme Council Meeting on November 24 had decided that the Deputy President will not officially open its wings’ general assemblies as always.

Commenting further, Dr Mahathir compared the crisis faced by UMNO during the late 1980s’ where no one was stopped from voicing their opinion and also allowed to campaign.

“Now I am not allowed to meet UMNO members and UMNO ministers. I am also an UMNO member by I was a the former president,” said Dr Mahathir.

Commenting on the insistence of several branch leaders who called for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to step down as President, he stressed that anyone within the party has the rights to voice their opinion.

“UMNO is UMNO because of its members. For management purposes we have arranged the party in divisions and branches.

“But when the management is seen as not moving as a body which represents its members, then other parties have the rights to voice it out.

“We see now that the division leaders are not voicing out anything. When they are unable to speak then those who are able to do so will instead speak,” said Dr Mahathir.