Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin should not provide fodder to the party's enemies by airing his grievances in public, said an Umno leader.

Supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said today this would only damage the party.

"The enemies are out there. They see what is happening, that is not good.

"My humble request to him: whatever differences we have, bring them to the party," Tajuddin ( photo ) told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

He said this when asked whether Umno should silence Muhyiddin, who is becoming increasingly critical of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Last Saturday, Muhyiddin claimed that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had wanted him to replace Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as prime minister.

This prompted Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to tell Muhyiddin to leave Umno if he did not like Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Tajuddin said Muhyiddin is still respected as Umno's number two, but emphasised the need to be loyal to Najib

"We have to adjust with our leader. We are followers. Leaders have to lead, followers follow the leaders," he said.