KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah believes there are still “good men” in Umno who still believe in “truth and justice” even as factionalism emerges within the country’s largest political party following the axing of its deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from Cabinet.

Speaking in a forum on Malaysia’s future last night, the former Umno supreme councillor urged these “good men” to speak their mind in the face of its biggest challenge, the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad scandal that has cleaven the ruling party formed in 1946 advocating a Malay nationalist agenda pushing for independence from colonial Britain.

“I know that there many Umno members who believe in truth and justice, who uphold the objectives of Umno and the constitution of Umno,” Saifuddin told a packed forum by think-tank Research for Social Advancements.

“There are still good Umno members and these people must speak up,” he added.

Saifuddin’s remarks were in response to a member of the audience who asked the former Temerloh MP to send a message to the ruling party to stop using the racial card with voters.

A former deputy higher education minister, Saifuddin related that when he first joined politics, he had wanted to enter a multi-racial party and claimed that Barisan Nasional was his only choice, and he had to join the Malay component party Umno as there was no direct membership into the ruling coalition.

He also joked that there is little difference between the party constitutions of Umno and its political rival PAS, saying both ultimately share a common goal.

“We must continue, stay steadfast, steady on. Difficult times, yes. But there is only one destination.

“There are many ways, but only one destination. That destination is for a better Malaysia,” said Saifuddin.

In a hastily-convened press conference in Putrajaya last week, Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak confirmed rumours that Muhyiddin would be replaced by party vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as deputy prime minister.

Another of the party’s three vice-presidents, Sabah Umno stalwart Datuk Shafie Apdal was also dropped from the Cabinet.

Rumours are rife that infighting will erupt in Umno as a result of Najib’s dismissal of senior Umno leaders during the reshuffle last week.

Both Shafie and Muhyiddin have been openly critical of Najib’s handling of controversies involving debt-laden state investment arm.

The two men have also found supporters from within Umno following the Cabinet reshuffle, with Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir among those who visited Muhyiddin’s residence following the axing.