Sungai Besar UMNO passes motion asking Muhyiddin to step down

The Sungai Besar UMNO division has passed a motion asking Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to step down as deputy president of UMNO honourably.

The motion was moved by the division's chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos during the division's delegates meeting Sunday before being debated and carried with 274 delegates for it and 171 against.

The motion among others held the view that Muhyiddin should make way for Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, to continue efforts to strengthen the party ahead of the next general election (GE).

Jamal, in a statement after the meeting, said with the challenges the party was facing now, the top leadership needed to work closely without any distractions in forging ahead.

"The motion was supported by more than two thirds of the delegates present. We feel Najib needs a loyal number two, that is Ahmad Zahid. Time is running out (before the GE comes), focus must be given on fighting the opposition," he said.

He added that if Muhyiddin continued to remain as the deputy president, Najib would have no other work because he would have to keep responding to questions raised by Muhyiddin, besides the matter of confidential discussions at UMNO's Supreme Council.