The use of crass language by a Langkawi UMNO Wanita delegate recently when criticising Prime Minister and UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was not in line with the culture in UMNO.

Party Supreme Council member, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan who disagreed with the use of unsuitable language by the delegate, said UMNO had been practising refined language and upholding noble values which were also central to the party's survival.

"That (criticising using coarse language) is not UMNO culture. That is thug culture or culture that is alien to UMNO," he said when opening the Langkawi UMNO division delegates' meeting, here, today.

Abdul Rahman said each UMNO member was never prevented from criticising the party's leadership as long as the criticism came out of concern for the party for it to remain strong in the face of political challenges and issues.

He said the worries and uneasiness felt by UMNO members over the current political polemics should not drive them to go over the limit to the extent of destabilising the party.

Abdul Rahman said the current situation in the country required all UMNO members to think rationally and not to easily believe the slander by certain quarters out to take advantage of the situation.

He said the issues being faced now would take some time to resolve, hence he urged UMNO members not to be hasty and expect quick answers to the issues.

Langkawi UMNO division head, Datuk Ir. Nawawi Ahmad, who is also the Langkawi MP, also spoke at the meeting which was attended by about 600 delegates.