malaysiakini and the DUTY for a REFERENDUM on the NEW LEADERS

I wonder why the UMNO Deputy President is not eager to consider the by-elections as a referendum on the new leadership team in UMNO.
According to malaysiakini, Incoming No 2: Polls not a referendum on new boss Muhyiddin Yassin hopes the voters do not treat the events as an endorsement or rejection of the new team.
I find this rather surprising from such a veteran politician as in Malaysia, ordinary folks get so little opportunity to give some official feed-back to top leaders - a compliant MSM is one of the stumbling blocks and even BN monority party leaders get told very publicly they can just leave the coalition.
Also don't forget that Najib is getting the Prime Minister's job on a golden platter from Abdullah without even a contest in his own political party.
After the illegal power grab in Perak, a most unconstitutional and disgraceful episode by the ruling BN, it is only right that Perak voters tell them what they think by using the polls as a referendum.
No, it is not only their right - IT IS THEIR DUTY.