Umno has suspended the membership of Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for six years effective immediately.
The party also suspended Alor Setar Umno division chief Mohd Yusof Ismail.
It was reported that Tajuddin was given a two-term suspension over his open criticism of the party and its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, which was decided by the Umno supreme council meeting last night.
Tajuddin was removed from the Umno supreme council in June, for calling Zahid a “liability” and demanding the latter’s resignation from the top post.
A month later, the Pasir Salak MP was dropped as Malaysia’s named ambassador to Indonesia.
Yusof said he has yet to receive an official letter regarding the matter.
He believed the decision was the result of his frequent criticism of Zahid, even though his remarks were not made out in the open but through the Umno division chief’s WhatsApp group.
“I regret that the action taken against me is heavier than the one taken against former Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam, who launched more scathing remarks against the prime minister,” Yusof said in a statement today.
Yusof also believed the action taken against him is an indication that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also an Umno vice-president, could meet the same fate if the premier fails to dissolve Parliament soon.
The Umno supreme council top five, including Ismail Sabri, met last night and decided that the general elections will indeed be held this year.
Zahid has been pushing Ismail Sabri to dissolve the Parliament this year, but the latter was indecisive over the matter, not wanting the polls to be held during the monsoon season.
Besides action against Tajuddin and Yusof, the meeting yesterday also sacked former Bandar Tun Razak Umno division secretary Zaharin Mohd Yasin, allegedly for being critical of the party’s leadership, especially Zahid.