Sacked Umno leader Zaid Ibrahim's call on the King not to appoint Najib Abdul Razak as the next prime minister was 'irresponsible and malicious', said Umno deputy aspirant Muhyiddin Yassin today.

muhyiddin yassin interview 100309 04 He said the statement was clearly aimed at creating unease among Umno members in particular and Malaysians in general.

Speaking at an event in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Zaid said Najib's appointment as prime minister would divide the people .

Muhyiddin, who is also international trade and industry minister, said Zaid's statement was not helpful in uniting the people. It also showed his opportunistic character.

"I strongly deny Zaid's claim that the country is in crisis over the appointment of the prime minister.

"The Umno leadership transition is progressing well and it has been proven that Najib has the confidence of Umno divisions to be the new party president," he said in a statement, according to Bernama .

Muhyiddin also said it was clearly stated in Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall first appoint a member of the Dewan Rakyat, who is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the House, as the prime minister to preside over the cabinet.

"The Barisan Nasional is the party that commands the majority in the Dewan Rakyat, with Umno having the most seats among the BN component parties," he said.

Don't fall for his propaganda

Muhyiddin said Najib's appointment as the prime minister would unite the people.

najib announce new bn perak state govt 040209 04 "I would like to remind the people and Umno members not to fall for Zaid's propaganda which is clearly ill-intent, irresponsible and putting self interest above that of the country," he said.

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Mohd Shafie Apdal described Zaid's statement as devoid of logic as it had been the practice to appoint the Umno president as prime minister.

He said the power transfer between Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib was progressing smoothly.

Zaid, the former law minister, had said there are other well-qualified Umno parliamentarians who could be appointed as prime minister.

kuala terengganu by election dap dinner 140109 zaid ibrahim "I am loath to say it but for the reasons that I have set out, I am compelled to say that Najib will most certainly divide us and in doing so, will nudge us closer to the edge.

"For King and country, I urge His Majesty to take into consideration the prerequisites to the appointment and the concerns of the rakyat," he said.

"There is no constitutional obligation on His Majesty to appoint the president of Umno as the prime minister," he added.

Read Zaid Ibrahim's hard-hitting speech