THE Umno Supreme Council’s decision to sack and suspend a host of leaders and members who are not aligned with the party will make it “dirtier”, former party secretary-general Annuar Musa said.

The Supreme Council last night announced that it had sacked 44 of its members, including former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor Umno chairman Noh Omar.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi described the decision as a “massive purge”, which saw four leaders, including former vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein, who is Umno Sembrong chief, and former information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan suspended for six years.

“This cleansing will only create more dirt as the source of the filth still remains in the party,” said Annuar, in a Facebook post, without naming anyone.

Annuar was among several Umno leaders who were sacked early last month for allegedly opposing the party during the recent general election.

The former Ketereh division chief said all Umno leaders and members who were subjected to disciplinary action were “trying to tell the truth” about the state of the party but instead were called traitors.

“They (Umno leadership) want everyone to follow their false narrative,” he said.

“So just leave them in their world. The people have already left them, and the time will come when members will also leave them en masse.”

Annuar called on those given the boot by the party to stay calm and stand up for their principles.

“Let them (the leadership) use the party as their personal shield and run the party like their own private business,” he said.

“We will continue with the struggle but in our own way. InsyaAllah.”

He said the general election was a signal to the party from the people, but it chose to be in denial.

“They like to blame the people, voters and everyone else except themselves,” he said.

Yesterday, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the party had meted out a six-year suspension for Hishammuddin, Shahril, Tebrau division chief Maulizan Bujang and former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff. 

Umno is punishing its errant members for their efforts against the interests of the party, including by acting to sabotage the party in the general election. 

Apart from sacking Khairy, it was reported that former Tanjong Karang MP and Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar, who had initially been suspended for six years, was given the sack after Noh had asked the leadership for it. 

It was also reported that former Johor menteri besar Hasni Mohammad was dropped as Johor liaison chief and replaced by Khaled Nordin. 

Forty-two other party members were also expelled – nine from the Putrajaya division, five from the Pasir Gudang division, two from the Tanjong Karang division and 26 from Pahang.

Among their violations include contesting as Independent candidates, contesting against Barisan Nasional and helping opposing parties during the general election. – January 28, 2023.