Signs of turmoil in Umno have emerged in the wake of Muhyiddin Yassin's removal as deputy prime minister.
Two Umno Youth leaders from Muhyiddin's home state of Johor resigned from their positions today, with one of them accusing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of betrayal.
Both Asrul Esreen Mohd Salleh and Saiful Zakry Ripin were Tenggara Umno Youth division committee members.
In a scathing statement, Esreen said he quit because the top leadership has veered far from the original struggle of Umno.
Despite Najib's 'people first' slogan, he argued the majority of decisions made do not favour the masses.
"The sacking of Muhyiddin from Cabinet also shows that those who speak the truth will be pruned and those who defend the people will be expelled," he added.
This is betrayal
Esreen also criticised Najib's decision to appoint four BN lawmakers who are members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), including former chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed, into the cabinet.
"This should not happen when investigation (by PAC) on 1MDB is still ongoing.
"What has happened seems obvious to the rakyat, like myself, who feel this is a betrayal to race, religion and party," he said.
"This is not in line with my struggle or that of past leaders," he added.
Esreen said the current leadership is deaf to the complaints of the people, where the rich become richer and the poor become poorer, while "those whose who support vices would be powerful".
He then quoted the words of a leader whom he did not name, saying "When your country is rich but there are people struggling and in poverty, know that there are robbers stealing from the nation".
At the end of the quote, Esreen added these words in brackets - ( pemimpin yang merompak duit rakyat) or "leaders who steal people's money".
Meanwhile, Saiful said as an Umno member and Youth committee member, he was ashamed over the actions of some leaders.
"I also feel embarrassed when answering questions from the grassroots regarding this action," he added.
Muhyiddin was dropped from the Cabinet some 48 hours after he made a hard-hitting speech on 1MDB at the Cheras Umno division annual general meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The veteran politician however remains as Umno deputy president.
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