UMNO deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should work together with others in the party as a united team rather than criticise the top leadership, said Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Expressing support for the call for action to be taken against Muhyiddin, he said the deputy president's repeated criticisms of the administration's handling of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy could weaken the government.

Mahdzir, who is Education Minister, said: "To build a strong political organisation, we must be a united team with strong working relations between the party leaders and grassroots.

"How can you criticise your own party president? Any problem should be solved in a proper way through discussions within the party, and not in public," he told reporters after visiting Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Taman Medan here today.

READ: 'Any proposal to suspend Muhyiddin must go through UMNO disciplinary board'

Last Monday, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said Muhyiddin should step down if he could no longer discharge the responsibilities entrusted to him properly.

Asked whether action should be taken against Muhyiddin, Mahdzir said: "I fully support the call to refer Muhyiddin to the disciplinary committee. He has been making comments (against the top leadership) for quite some time now, and anything that is damaging to the party should be stopped."