There should be no reason for Pagoh MP Muhyiddin Yassin to allege that he has been restricted from carrying out his duties as Umno deputy president, the Malaysian Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) president Abdul Aziz Rahman said today.

Abdul Aziz told Malaysiakini this was because the duties of each Umno leader were clearly stated in the party’s constitution.

“There should be no issue about them (Umno leaders) being restricted or prevented from carrying out their duties and I feel that there is no need to do so.

“If the office-bearers did anything that contradicts the party’s constitution, they would not only be advised to resign but disciplinary action should also be taken, particularly if their action can affect the party’s position,” he said when contacted.

Muhyiddin had during an event in Port Dickson on Saturday warned the Umno supreme council to not take any action against him without any evidence based on the party’s constitution.

Following his remark, Umno supreme council member Nazri Aziz had reportedly said he would propose for Muhyiddin to be hauled up to face the party’s disciplinary committee, if the former deputy prime minister refused to voluntarily resign as Umno deputy president.

Nazri today also likened Muhyiddin’s continuous attacks against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also Umno president, to a ‘biting dog’ that is making it difficult for Umno to continue serving the rakyat.

Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak pointed out that the main issue Nazri had raised concerned Muhyiddin's alleged undermining of Najib’s leadership.

“As a deputy president he should be supporting the president, not undermining him,” said Salleh, who referred to Muhyiddin’s criticisms over Najib’s handling of the RM2.6 billion donation scandal.

“Muhyiddin has said he has been briefed on the RM2.6 billion matter. But previously he has also said he was not too familiar with the issue and what he knews, particularly about 1MDB, he read it from The Edge.

“The way he made that statement made it sound like he is in possession of a secret and that secret is not good. So why all this drama?” said Salleh, who concurred with Nazri’s views that Muhyiddin’s remarks were made with a bad intention against Najib.

“As the deputy, this is very unbecoming of him (Muhyiddin),” said Salleh, who is also Umno Sabah chief.

Muhyiddin was removed from his Cabinet position in July last year and has since then repeatedly raised concerns over state-investor 1MDB’s operations and the RM2.6 billion donation that was deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts.