NEW YORK: Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has advised Umno members against making hasty decisions which could damage the party, the position of the Malays and the country.

He said they should act wisely and with courtesy so that the situation would not become worse.

Expressing shock at the resignation of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as an Umno member yesterday, the international trade and industry minister said it was important for Umno members to look after the well-being of the party and the position of the Malays because the component parties of the Barisan Nasional would lose confidence in the coalition if Umno continued to face problems.

"If there is any message from the shocking move, it is that what needs to be done should be through the democratic process in the party.

"If they are dissatisfied, there are ways of resolving it, such as through the party election process, where members can make suggestions to resolve the crisis," he said after a seminar on "Malaysia-United States Business Opportunities", here on Monday.
Describing the situation as critical, Muhyiddin said Umno members must be careful so that Malay solidarity would not be affected.

He also said Umno needed strong leadership to overcome the crisis. - Bernama