Kedah Umno Youth has urged the party's disciplinary board to take action on Batu Kawan Umno division deputy chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

Khairuddin had said last week that certain Umno leaders are not fit to lead their constituencies as they are not “proactive” nor do they go down to “the grassroots to meet the people”.

Kedah’s youth chief Saiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin, responding to Khairuddin’s statement made during an interview with Malaysiakini , said that the former is trying to taint the party’s image by his criticism of Umno’s leadership.

He said that Khairuddin's actions of criticising the Penang Umno leadership is merely him taking advantage of the situation by getting cheap publicity.

"We support Penang Umno Youth's statement urging that stern action be taken on Khairuddin for compromising the party's image," Saiful ( right ) was quoted as saying in Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia today.

Khairuddin also rose to fame when he broke party ranks and lodged a police report against the government’s controversial and debt-ridden wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

The Umno man said last week during the interview that BN may suffer an even bigger defeat in Penang because of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's appointment of “sleepy BN leaders”.

"I don't understand the Umno president's attitude, people who were defeated are appointed, even as the Penang Umno liason chief," he had said.

Khairuddin also took a jibe at Penang Umno chief Zainal Abidin Osman who had lost in the last general election, asking the latter to step down.

"In the state level leadership, many are still sleeping. Which is why I said Penang Umno liason chief Zainal Abidin must step down," he stressed.

The Umno man pointed out that Najib’ pet project is not transparent enough, which he says made him feel doubtful and suspicious of its financial management.

This prompted him to lodge a police report, which listed a slew of issues to be investigated within 1MDB.

“Since 2014, 1MDB has accumulated a debt of RM41.9 billion which means there is a high possibility that it faces bankruptcy,” he had said, adding that the police should do a “detailed and comprehensive” investigation.

Meanwhile, Penang Umno has denied having anyhing to do with the lodging of the report and said that Khairuddin did not receive the consent of the state Umno before lodging it.