Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lamented that those who had complained to him on various matters seemed to have "crossed over" to the other side.

The outspoken former premier was asked whether all Umno leaders were still committed to Najib after he had sacked former deputy prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin.

"It looks to me. (But) I don't know what's in their heart.

"Because some came to see me, complaining about this and that but now they don't see me anymore because they have crossed over," he said.

The former premier has said that one of the reasons he had become vocal on matters such as the controversies surrounding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was due to the complaints he received on the matter.

Meanwhile, Mahathir believes that trouble would not erupt in Umno after the sacking of Muhyiddin.

"I don't think (so)... Because they (Umno members) are all very committed because of certain factors. They do not question anyone.

"Like the Americans say, 'my country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right'. But for them (Umno members), they use the term ‘country’ for the party," he said.

The phrase is normally used to express extreme patriotism or attack blind loyalty.

'Umno members don't want chaos'

Mahathir may have said, albeit sarcastically, that he does not believe that there would be trouble in Umno.

However, cracks in the party have emerged in the wake of Muhyiddin's sacking.

Two Umno Youth leaders from Muhyiddin's home state of Johor resigned from their positions yesterday, with one of them accusing Najib of betrayal.

As for his advice to Umno divisions which have decided not to invite Muhyiddin ( photo ) for their respective annual general meetings, Mahathir said this was because they were stopped from doing so.

"They have been forbidden from inviting him. They all abide by the law and they do not want to create chaos; that's why they have to reject Muhyiddin," he said.

At least two divisions have snubbed Muhyiddin by retracting their invitations to him to officiate their meetings.

Raub was the first to pull back its invitation to Muhyiddin, followed by Sungai Besar.

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