In a direct warning to Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz said the former should cease his attacks on party president Najib Abdul Razak.

This is because if he continued to do so, Nazri said, he would likewise attack Muhyiddin.

Stressing that Muhyiddin was no longer fit to be the party’s number two man, Nazri said Muhyiddin should quit his post if he no longer supported the party president.

“I don't want to be like him because after this, I am going to attack him. So it’s better for him to cease (his attacks).

“If he continues and I attack him, I will end up like him. That's why I ask that he stops (his attacks)," Nazri said at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Foreseeing that Muhyiddin would be undaunted in continuing his attacks, Nazri said this was why he decided to move a motion to suspend Muhyiddin as Umno deputy president at the party's supreme council meeting tomorrow.

“If he’s no longer the deputy president, he is free to do whatever he wants. He can meet one or 12 branch leaders, lantak la (it’s up to him),” Nazri, who is tourism and culture minister, added.

Meanwhile, asked why it didn't take anyone earlier to do something against Muhyiddin, Nazri said it was because they didn't want to be hasty.

Admitting that there were efforts to oust Muhyiddin ( photo ) from his post, Nazri however said they had then considered his reprimands to be sincere in nature.

“We allow freedom of speech. But it wasn't proper for him to hold a meeting with people who are not from Umno just before the Umno general assembly," he said, in reference to the event held the night prior of the Umno AGM at the Sultan Sulaiman Club.

Further pointing out how attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali had cleared Najib of any wrongdoing in the RM2.6 billion issue, Nazri said they were surprised when Muhyiddin was the one who had raised the issue further as opposed to the opposition.

“As loyal Umno members, (when the attorney- general said) there was no case, we were relieved.

“But not Muhyiddin; he had raised the issue further. Instead of coaxing Umno branch chiefs, he incited them further," he said.

Muhyiddin not representative of Johoreans

On another matter, Nazri was also asked to comment on Pagoh Umno Youth chief Mohd Zaid Abdul Rahman who said that Nazri had offended Johoreans for his recent remarks made against Muhyiddin and should therefore should apologise.

The minister however pointed out how Muhyiddin was not representative of Johoreans.

“Since when was Muhyiddin Johor’s representative? Johor Umno chief is Khaled Nordin.

“If Khaled summoned me then that's a different thing," he said.

Dismissing Zaid’s demand as mere “child’s play”, Nazri told him to “grow up”.

“There are so many things for us to do to champion the Malays and Muhyiddin is not representative of all Malays,” he said.

Nazri, earlier this week, had likened Muhyiddin to a dog which is nipping at Umno’s ankles, making it difficult for the party to fulfill its obligation.

Muhyiddin has been increasingly vocal in his criticism of Najib after the latter sacked him as deputy prime minister last year.

Related stories

'Umno supreme council will pay for punishing Muhyiddin'

Apologise for offending Johoreans, Nazri told

Nazri: Dr M’s just angry his son didn’t last a term

Umno veep defends Muhyiddin amid ouster speculation

Nazri to Muhyiddin: Learn from Ismail how to defend your leader

Defiant Muhyiddin will face the music: Rahman Dahlan

My views matter, Rafidah's do not, says Nazri