Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the investigation initiated against seven Umno leaders over their open remarks about the party’s top leadership was for the good of the party.

“There is a proper way and channel to criticise the party, and not openly... we don’t want to have enemies from within, ‘termites’ and ‘thorns in the flesh’ which can weaken the party.

“We received a lot of complaints but the major one is about these seven people... we actually can take action against them but at this moment, they (committee) are still finalising the investigation papers.”

Tengku Adnan said this when met by reporters after the ground-breaking ceremony for the building of the Pudu Ulu Recreation Park in Kuala Lumpur today.

He, however, declined to reveal the seven party leaders involved, but said the committee appointed was investigating the matter and the outcome would be tabled to the Umno presidential council before being brought to the disciplinary committee.

Of late, a number of Umno leaders have reportedly joined former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in criticising the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the Umno president.

These leaders include former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, former land and regional development minister Mohd Shafie Apdal and Gua Musang Member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

- Bernama