Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin today acknowledged several factors affecting the falling value of the ringgit but zoomed in on the 1MDB scandal as a key factor.

"The reason is not because of the increasing value of the (US) dollar or our decreasing commodity and oil prices alone [...]. What has caused it are political issues.

"1MDB has had the impact of making people lose confidence in us.

"Malaysia is a good place to invest, but investors don't want to because the ringgit is not stable and they choose to wait," he said to about 2,000 Semporna Umno division members today.

This was despite Najib on Tuesday blaming four factors for the weakening ringgit which now stands at over RM4 to a US dollar.

In Najib's explanation, he did not make any reference to 1MDB but had accused excessive political play and speculation that had eroded confidence in the government.

He had also blamed the ringgit's decline on China's move to devalue the yuan, the anticipated interest rate hike in the US, and the fall in comodity prices.

AGM for delegates to speak up

On another matter, Muhyiddin also defended the criticism made by Langkawi Wanita Umno delegate Anina Saaduddin who was highly critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak during last weekend’s annual meeting of Langkawi Umno.

"This is our country. Why can't we talk? We have to talk. What do we have to control it? Let them speak, kencing (lying) or not, this is the only platform for the delegates once a year," he said referring to Anina's rant against the president which went viral.

In the clip, posted on social media, she said Najib lied to Umno members when saying they all supported him.

Anina had used the word " kencing " (urinate) to describe what she said the prime minister did to the Umno grassroots.

Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor has warned that action will be taken against delegates whose speeches breached party ethics .