Former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam believes that Umno is "imploding", with internal wars tearing the party apart.

His remarks come as former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues to attack PM Najib Abdul Razak, and an Umno blog accuses Umno Youth leaders of plotting to topple Najib.

"The only thing you hear now is one person trying to topple the other. People are losing their sense of purpose (within the party)," he is quoted by The Star Online as saying.

He also said the Umno in-fighting has leached into the country's administration leaving an "eerie sense of loss of direction in the country, which can be felt across the board".

Musa, 81, spoke to reporters after conferred an honorary degree by HELP University today, becoming a Doctor of Letters in Law.

In his acceptance speech, he reportedly urged all to put politicking aside and focus on the nation’s socio-economic development.

In an obvious reference to the Mahathir-Najib spat, he reportedly said this applies to "the past ones who want to be present and the present ones who may fast be past".

Musa was once Mahathir’s number two but resigned as deputy premier citing irreconcilable differences with Mahathir.

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