KUALA LUMPUR: Former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) leaders and members have labeled Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as “arrogant” after he had labeled some of its members “stupid” for not understanding matters concerning the party’s registration.
The PPBM president’s credibility has also come into question for threatening to sack members who dared to question party matters. Muhyiddin’s actions, they claimed, was only to cover up the party’s flaws and weaknesses.
Former PPBM exco member, Muhammad Syazwan Ahmad Zainal, said Muhyiddin should adopt an open attitude whenever the party leaders and grassroots point out mistakes within the party in the hopes that they would be rectified.
He said if Muhyiddin refuses to acknowledge the party’s flaws, then it makes him no better than the Umno leaders of the past, who had reportedly barred its members from speaking out.
“Muhyiddin’s statement clearly shows that PPBM and its leaders have breached their own constitution. A grievous error has been committed in the party and its leaders are now trying to divert the issue. He (Muhyiddin) then resorts to threatening members with expulsion.
“This arrogance will only lead to members losing faith in the party and its leaders. Members are then left with no choice but to go to the media as attempts at diplomacy within party channels had failed.
“It is this very attitude which has led to disillusionment among the members, especially when members are threatened with expulsion for only wanting to ensure that justice is upheld. If this is the game being played, then it is no wonder that more members and leaders will eventually make their voices heard,” he told NSTP.
On Sunday, Muhyiddin, after leading an anti-GST campaign in the KL city centre, had said members who questioned the party over its registration debacle could be sacked. He had also labeled them as “stupid” for questioning the issue regarding party documents submitted to the Registrar of Societies.
Muhyiddin’s outburst came after Gombak PPBM member, Mohd Azimin Muhamad, had raised the possibility that documents pertaining to the party’s branch and division meetings submitted to the RoS last Thursday, were fake.
Muhyddin’s remarks also came under fire from former Batu Gajah PPBM vice chief, Fazli Mohamad who questioned the “reckless” manner in which the former dealt with criticism.
He said Muhyiddin should be transparent in everything he says and not label PPBM members “stupid” as it affects his credibility as its president.
“It’s unbecoming of a president. Of course not all members are privy to all goings-on in the party. But the supreme council members should know how to gauge the sentiments of its grassroots.
“If some members question party matters, call them up to the headquarters and reprimand them. There’s no need to call people “stupid” and expose every single weakness within the party,” he said.