Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's stance in taking a different stand on the 1MDB issue from his boss Najib Abdul Razak was below him, a cabinet minister said today.

"How can I approve (the statement of the) deputy prime minister? He should have stood by the leader and the party," Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in an interview with Sin Chew Daily .

As deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president, Zahid added, it was beneath the dignity of Muhyiddin to be openly at odds with Najib.

"Please prove what you said," said Zahid, who is also an Umno vice-president.

He was referring to Muhyiddin's warning that Umno was suffering from a perception crisis due to the 1MDB controversy.

On Sunday, speaking at the Cheras Umno division annual general meeting, Muhyiddin (photo ) had said that should the general election be held soon, Umno would lose.

Muhyiddin, who described 1MDB as a ' sovereign debt fund ', said he had advised Najib, on many occasions, how to handle the matter but was ignored .

However, the Pagoh MP emphasised that he had no intention to topple Najib, but was just trying to help.

Zahid in the interview said the people should not jump the gun on 1MDB as the investigations have not been concluded.

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