Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee says he agrees with former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin on the concerns surrounding 1MDB.
"As a party member, I agree with Muhyiddin's view that if the 1MDB issue is not solved, it will become a liability to Umno and BN.
"Like what Muhyiddin said, if this issue involved one or two ringgit, it is fine (but it involves billions) and there is no problem if 1MDB ceases to exist.
"But the 1MDB issue has become a topic of discussion for people of all ages and can no longer be curtailed," Syed Ali added in a blog posting today.
He warned that if the 1MDB issue is not resolved, it would put the future of Umno and BN at risk with regard to the next general election.
On Sunday, Muhyiddin delivered a hard-hitting speech on the 1MDB issue at the Cheras Umno division annual general meeting.
The following day, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement calling on Muhyiddin to be patient and to wait for the outcome of the 1MDB investigations.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak axed Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister in a reshuffle of his cabinet.
Understand Muhyiddin's message
Meanwhile, Syed Ali said Muhyiddin's speech was not only about the concerns regarding Umno's future but also encompassed the issue of public trust in the party.
He added that as a member of Umno, it is incumbent upon leaders at all levels and the grassroots to preserve the sanctity of the party and ensure it continues to rule the nation.
Hence, Syed Ali advised Umno members to accept and understand Muhyiddin's message.
The division leader also felt Muhyiddin was not attempting to pressure or challenge any quarter, but rather wanted to safeguard the future of Umno.
"I want to remind party members that the Umno deputy president was not scoring an own goal but was (motivated by) his deep love for the party, which has come under intense criticism from internal and external forces.
"If Muhyiddin did not speak frankly, it would lead to all sorts of impressions. Surely, some quarters would accuse him of turning a blind eye to what is happening in the party.
"To me, Muhyiddin did not attack Najib nor does he want the prime minister post. He wanted the 1MDB investigation and for the issue of money deposited into (Najib's) personal account to be explained to the people," he added.
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