Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reminded Umno members to toe the line in the face of issues plaguing the party of late.

 

"There must be togetherness among the leadership (of Umno) at all levels, whether grassroots, division or national," he said in his speech at the Kepong Wanita Umno division annual general meeting today.

 

“Fighting spirit and determination is what we have in Umno," he told the crowd of about 250. 

 

He also told them not to start fanning the fires of issues raised by the opposition. 

 

"Those at the bottom, don't become ' tukang cucuk (instigator)'. Don't play satay politics (and fan the flames).

 

"We don't want any ' tukang cucuk ', ' tukang bakar ' or ' tukang kipas ' in politics. That is how Umno will be stable," he said.

 

Without mentioning which issues he was talking about, he said they were usually raised by the Opposition, and that these issues should not be made into something more than what they were by Umno themselves. 

 

All leaders face problems, he said, even our first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

 

"This is what we call the political life cycle. It is in our history that all leaders will be tested," he explained.

 

"Our Prime Minister Najib Razak ( photo ) is being tested right now," he added.

 

On Tuesday, Najib announced a cabinet reshuffle where Umno deputy chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin was dropped as deputy prime minister and education minister.

 

Speculation arose that this might cause infighting within Umno.

 

However, so far, Muhyiddin has insisted that he has accepted Najib's decision and that he is secure in his position in the party.