The Padang Rengas MP said the letters, which accused Ismail Sabri Yaakob as being the “weakest prime minister ever”, were dangerous as they cast aspersions that Umno members disliked the party’s vice-president as their leader.

He said whoever had distributed these letters was likely out of ideas and, hence, was trying to assassinate Ismail’s character.

“Whether someone is weak or strong is a matter of perception. We should not pay too much attention to this,” he told FMT.

“To me whatever it is, we want someone who is not corrupt and is clean. And I believe Ismail has so far not been charged with anything. So that’s good for us.

“Ismail is clean and this is someone who we all should support — not just Umno members but also the people. So this is what we should be concerned about.”

It was reported that these poison-pen letters were found outside the corridor of the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur at around noon today.

Besides criticising Ismail for not being able to resolve issues affecting the nation, the letters also called for a snap general election to save the country.

Nazri added there was no point being a strong leader but, at the same time, being embroiled in corruption allegations.

“I think one of the reasons why we won in the recent state elections was also because of the people’s confidence in Umno and Ismail,” he said.

Another Umno leader, who declined to be named, said this was all just propaganda. The party members are clear on their support for Ismail as prime minister, he added.

Sabah Umno Youth chief Abdul Aziz Julkarnain said he had not seen the letters, adding that no one was even talking about them.

“The prime minister is currently delivering his speech. Umno has given him due respect as the prime minister and the vice-president, not as mentioned in these poison-pen letters,” he told FMT.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Umno vice president Khaled Nordin said: “I don’t read poison-pen letters”.