PETALING JAYA: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (pic) has denied that the party issued "threatening" letters to its Perikatan Nasional-friendly MPs.

       “Some say the letters are threats?

       “They are not threats, just a reminder that party members (need to abide) by the decision of the party,” he was quoted as saying on BN Online, Barisan Nasional's news portal, on Wednesday (Aug 11).

       He gave an assurance that Umno had no intention of sacking MPs who still supported the Perikatan administration.

       “We intended (the letter) as a reminder of the party constitution.

       “That was the intention of my letter which was given to them, including my friends,” he said, implying that the letter was sent to all Umno MPs regardless of their stand.

       Ahmad was commenting on a recent letter dated Aug 5 which was issued by his office and touched on Perikatan’s mishandling of the Emergency Ordinances, likening it to disobeying a royal edict.

       The letter also requested all Umno MPs, including ministers and deputy ministers, to withdraw support for Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Perikatan administration.

       On Aug 5, Umno's Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz confirmed receiving the letter from Ahmad.

       "I will not be replying to that letter," he said briefly when contacted.

       On Aug 3, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that the party was withdrawing support of its MPs for Perikatan and Muhyiddin.

       He said he also had statutory declarations from several Umno MPs who retracted their support.