Mukhriz (left) pictured here visiting Muhyiddin at his house after he was removed from his deputy prime minister post last year.
PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has backed Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir amidst a revolt by 14 state Umno division leaders who want him ousted as Kedah Mentri Besar.
The former deputy prime minister said if it was not for Mukhriz, Barisan Nasional would not have been able to recapture the Kedah from the Opposition in the last general election.
"Mukhriz is an Umno leader with calibre and is well-liked by party members and the people. Moreover, he was one of the reasons why Barisan won the state," said Muhyiddin in a statement Thursday.
The Umno deputy president said Mukhriz should be given a chance to lead the state, as he was still considered new to the mentri besar job.
"He certainly needs support from everyone, especially elected representatives and Umno division leaders to manage the state," he said.
Moreover, Mukhriz is a Mentri Besar who came into the office with a clean track record, Muhyiddin added.
"He is clean, well-liked by the people and is not tainted with any moral misconduct, breach of trust and corruption that could affect the people's confidence towards the party and the Government," he said.
Muhyiddin said it would be unfortunate if the call for Mukhriz's removal was made based on political interests rather than the interests of the people.
"If this is the real reason behind the call, it is quite unfortunate for the people of Kedah as Umno is facing a severe crisis of confidence," he said.
He said this move would only cause further division among members, which would weaken the party.
"I am worried if the call by these division leaders to remove him would make the people lose respect to Umno.
"I am very disappointed when this is happening when the people are already burdened with economic challenges," he said.
On Wednesday, 14 Umno division leaders, except for Jerlun which Mukhriz heads, cited a lost of confidence in Mukhriz as the state party chief and Mentri Besar.
The reasons, among others, include that Mukhriz had failed to unite the state leadership and party machinery at all levels and there was no strategic plan for the party ahead of the next general election.
The rebellion came just about a month after Mukhriz hit out at the national party leadership by defending Muhyiddin and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, who were removed from the Cabinet last year for questioning the handling of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MBD) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
His father, former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is one of Najib's biggest critics.
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