Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin today said that only leaders who are clean and do not commit any wrongdoing deserve the people's loyalty.

He said this in response to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's policy speech at the Umno general assembly yesterday where the latter said Islam required followers to be loyal to their leaders.

"In Islam, we are asked to obey and be loyal to our leaders. This was mentioned by the president yesterday morning.

"Leaders whom we must be loyal to are leaders who obey Allah's commands and are trustworthy, honest, have integrity, are clean and stay away from wrongdoings," said Muhyiddin in a Facebook post.

Muhyiddin also addressed Najib's reminder that the Umno deputy president's role was to assist the president.

"That is what I have been doing all this time […] I have never neglected my duty to assist the president," said Muhyiddin.

However, Muhyiddin said that he was also elected as deputy president and was responsible to the party's grassroots.

"I often hear the grassroots voices about various problems in the party leadership.

"Therefore it is my responsibility to advise the president to listen to the voices of the grassroots and correct the situation.

"Instead, I was removed (as deputy prime minister), sidelined, and even prevented from carrying out my duties as Umno deputy president," said Muhyiddin.

'Uneven stage' at this year's AGM

Muhyiddin, together with Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal were in July removed from the government for their criticism of Najib and his handling of the 1MDB affair.

In his post, Muhyiddin also complained about the uneven playing field at the party's annual general assembly this year after the Umno supreme council broke with decades-long tradition by only allowing the party president to deliver the opening and closing speeches.

In the past, apart from the president, the deputy president, vice-presidents and wing chiefs would also deliver winding-up speeches at the end of the Umno annual general assembly.

"I am not allowed to speak as per usual at this assembly and surely I will not be able to convey my views to the delegates directly.

"The stage at the assembly this time has become uneven," said Muhyiddin.