Umno members must remain loyal to the party and cannot be fence-sitters, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said some party members cited indebtedness to some past leaders to create divisiveness in the party's struggle.

"There are some among us who assume that I, for example, am an Umno member but, at the same time, I support Umno leaders who have left the party.

"We have to make a choice. We cannot be fence-sitters or play safe. If we are Umno members, we must support Umno leaders wholeheartedly. In politics, we cannot be fence-sitters," he said.

Khairy, who is youth and sports minister, was opening the Sik Umno division delegates meeting in Kedah. Also present was Sik Umno division chief Mohd Tajuddin Abdullah.

While acknowledging the deeds of past leaders, Khairy said, their setting up a new party showed that they were opposed to Umno and Barisan Nasional.

"When they set up a new party, we have to oppose them and remain loyal to Umno. It has reached a stage where the situation has changed," he said, adding that no Umno Youth leader has joined the new party.

Khairy was apparently referring to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia which has former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad as chairperson and former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin as president.

Khairy said that no matter how great or popular a leader was, he would amount to nothing without a strong party.

"There is no place in politics for individual players, those who operate without a party. There must be a pairing of party and leader," he said.

At the event, Khairy announced the approval of RM5 million for the maintenance of sports amenities in the Sik district, seats for the stadium and a multipurpose hall for martial arts.

- Bernama