KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Tan Sri Rais Yatim today criticised Umno divisions that withdrew invitations to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Shafie Apdal from their meetings because both men were dropped in last week’s Cabinet reshuffle.

The sociocultural advisor to the government said both men were still leaders in the party and that rescinding invitations for them to appear at division meetings was “not democratic and goes against party values”.

“What is in the Umno Constitution must be respected like the rights of a leader.

“Muhyiddin still is (deputy) president of Umno and Shafie Apdal is still vice president. They have the rights in the positions, it is unethical for me that their earlier commitments have been put off,” Rais told reporters after attending the Universiti Islam Antarabangsa open house.

Rais also said that the two men should not be feared by party members as they have no ill feelings towards Umno.

He added that the two were not about to engage in activities that will cause the party to break up.

“We should listen to what they have to say first, then only analyse. If only there is anything, the leadership must make a decision,” he elaborated.

“But as long as they have posts, we should not force them out by iron-fisted means,” Rais told reporters.

Muhyiddin was replaced as deputy prime minister by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi while Shafie lost his rural and regional development portfolio.

Their removals were believed to be due to their open criticism of Putrajaya’s handling of the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.