KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 ― Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin reminded party members today that Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin still deserves respect as the party’s deputy president, and urged for an end to the attacks against the leader who was recently pulled from the federal Cabinet.

Khairy told Muhyiddin’s critics that it was not a “smart move” to criticise the leader, particularly as it could cause a split in Umno.

“As the youth chief, I feel that this not a smart move. We have already made a statement after the Cabinet reshuffle that Muhyiddin still should be respected as he is the deputy president.

“Same goes with Shafie Apdal,” he told reporters, referring to Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal who was removed from the Cabinet along with Muhyiddin.

“All these actions to criticise him (Muhyiddin) is not clever and should be avoided as it only allows a rift to be formed in the party. I hope those attacking Muhyiddin stop it as we cannot let Umno split,” the Youth and Sports Minister said.

The Rembau MP also said that the Umno divisions that have invited Muhyiddin to officiate their meetings see it as an honour if their deputy president accepts the invitation.

“It is not a problem that he is officiating. Iin fact is an honour that he is coming to the meeting. He is the deputy president of the party,” Khairy said.

There has been uncertainty among Umno divisions over the sudden axing of Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister.

Many have suggested that he was axed for being vocal against troubled state owned fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a brainchild of Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.