Kuala Lumpur: All Umno leaders and members should accept the decision on the expulsion of party deputy president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Tun Dr Mahathir, with an open heart, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said although a certain group found it difficult to accept the matter, it was the final decision of the party's Supreme Council."It is of course difficult to accept the appropriateness 100 per cent, but when a final decision had been made by the highest Umno body, it has to be accepted with an open heart and mind.
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"Party loyalty is the highest price to pay," he said.He said this when commenting on the decision of the Supreme Council yesterday to expel Muyhiddin and Mukhriz as Umno members for breaching party discipline while party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had his party membership suspended.
Asked on the possibility of having an Umno election, he said: "No Umno election in the near future." Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said he will not appeal his sacking and vowed to continue fighting to expose corruption within the party.
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Muhyiddin said while he felt his sacking was unjust and done in violation of the party constitution, he accepted his fate, and would not let it deter him from his struggle to uphold the truth."The decision to sack me, I have anticipated long ago. So the announcement marked the end of my long and winding journey in Umno.
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"This history will always remain etched in my memory because Umno has long become a part of my breathing heart. Nobody can deny me this. I have never betrayed Umno," he said in a statement."But if they assume that my struggle will end here, they are wrong. I will continue to fight until my last breath. Let them sack me or do anything to try and break my spirit. But the fire in my heart will not die.Muhyiddin and Mukhriz are both part of a campaign to oust Najib led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who recently joined Pakatan Harapan's campaign at the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections.Muhyiddin also expressed disappointment with Umno, saying the party no longer stood for the people, but has instead become an entity "controlled by one man's attempt to save his own and remain in power"."And those who commit crime and tarnish the party's image are not punished accordingly, but those with integrity and speak the truth are sacked," he said.
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The former Umno deputy president also said Malaysians will be able to judge if his criticism against the Umno leadership is warranted, and urged his supporters to continue the fight to uphold the interest of the country and its people."Continue your fight to protect our beloved country no matter where you are. InsyaAllah, God is with us".
