Earlier today, Umno Supreme Council member Puad called out former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin for praising the duo after they sought a probe into a possible breach of the party’s constitution regarding the no-contest motion for Umno’s top two posts – going on to question if the pair were “brave or being used”.
Speaking to FMT, one of the two members said he took offence at Puad’s remark.
“As someone who is born and bred in Umno… How could he say that (about me)?” Negeri Sembilan Umno member Fiqri Firdaus said.
“Umno has three million members. Is it wrong for us to have differing views?”
Fiqri stressed that as a veteran Umno man, Puad should be more mature when issuing such statements so as not to hurt the feelings of party members.
“I respect him, but I hope he can provide constructive comments and at least be appreciative of those with differing views,” he said.
The other member who lodged the report, Aizat Fikri Nasir of Terengganu Umno, seemed perplexed that Puad was unwilling to accept differing views within the party.
“Why is it that members are seen as being used or sponsored every time they have differing views?” he told FMT.
“My grandfather and father were Umno loyalists. No one can buy or instruct me. This is about my principles.”
Khairy hits back
Meanwhile, Khairy also hit back at Puad for his comments, stating that Umno members have the right to clarify with the RoS if they had any queries on the matter.
“Does Umno only belong to the top leaders? Umno belongs to all its members. Any member can ask RoS for clarification,” the former Umno Youth chief told The New Straits Times.
“We must respect any Umno member who wants clarity since the motion by the Rembau Umno delegate is very controversial with many legal experts questioning its validity.
“I support any Umno member who wants to clarify the validity of the motion.”
The no-contest motion was proposed by an Umno delegate from the Rembau division during the party’s general assembly last Friday and passed through a voice vote the next day.
The motion ensures that party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hasan, will be returned unopposed in the Umno elections which must be held by May 19.
Umno leaders are divided on the matter, and while some are sure of the motion’s validity, others say it violates the party’s constitution.