According to a Malay Mail Online report, the three senior leaders, Hasan Malek, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Aziz Kaprawi, want Muhyiddin to stop his attacks against Najib, who is also Umno president, for fear it would weaken the party considerably.

Their comments follow a warning issued by Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz to Muhyiddin that the former deputy prime minister risked suspension from his post in Umno if he did not cease his attacks on Najib immediately.

Sharing Nazri’s sentiments was Hasan, who said Muhyiddin had been given many opportunities to rectify the “mess” he had created and that his recent actions showed he was not interested to carry out his responsibilities as deputy president to assist Najib.

Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Rahman Dahlan, meanwhile said Muhyiddin’s recent attacks were unwarranted and contradictory to the latter’s assurances that he would continue to strengthen the party.

The Kota Belud MP also urged Muhyiddin to refrain from raising issues that would create confusion and cause rifts within the party.

Malaysiakini however reported that Pagoh Umno deputy chief Ismail Mohamed had come to Muhyiddin’s defence, likening Nazri’s attitude to that of a pig.

“Many people have asked me why, as the Pagoh Umno deputy chief, I have not defended Pagoh Umno chief Muhyiddin against the insults levelled at him by Nazri.

“I say in my heart, if someone has the attitude of a pig, they will poke (provoke) blindly,” he told the portal in a text message, adding it was more important to focus on safeguarding Johor Umno from those who want to destroy the party.

Yesterday, Nazri likened Muyhiddin’s criticisms of Najib to that of a “dog biting someone’s leg”. He also said Muhyiddin’s criticisms had created many obstacles for the party’s current leadership.