"Umno has never closed its door to anyone even if they are from the other parties. If they want to join us, it's not a problem to us. We don't have to invite them because they know that the door is never closed if they want to join," said Muhyiddin (left), who is also the Deputy Prime Minister.
He said this at a media conference after opening the 49th Session of theBrunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia Language Council (MABBIM) at the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), in Kuala Lumpur today.
Asked whether Umno would invite the former opposition MPs to join the party, he said it was up to these MPs whether to join Umno or otherwise because Umno always respected their views.
"(They) don't want to be accused later that they were persuaded by Umno leaders. They have their own stand and we respect that.
"The leaders who declared that they had left the party had made many statements on the weaknesses of the party, contradictions which they see as inappropriate to their cause," he said.
Since last month, several MPs from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) had left the party as they were disappointed with the leadership and direction of the party.
The MPs concerned were Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru), followed by Nibong Tebal MP Tan Tee Beng and Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri while on Saturday, Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin was expelled from the party.
Yesterday, Pas vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar said it was inappropriate for the party to accept Zulkifli following his sacking by the PKR as it was not in line with the spirit of consensus among the parties in the opposition pact.
'No respect'
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, described the Pas spiritual leader, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, as having 'no respect at all' for Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria (right) for criticising and labeling Harussani as an Umno agent and not a 'mufti'.
On Sunday, Nik Abdul Aziz labelled Harussani as an Umno agent when he claimed that the ulama had interfered in the efforts to form a coalition government in Perak.
Muhyiddin said the matter should not have been politicised by Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also the Kelantan Menteri Besar, because Harussani was only clarifying on his role and responsibility as a mufti.
"I have read the statement from Harussani and we should accept it. He had explained the role of the mufti, what are his responsibilities.
The statement by him (Nik Abdul Aziz) shows as though he does not understand what is the role of the mufti or belittled the ulama such as Harussani," he added.
- Bernama
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