Muhyiddin remains in Umno 'to continue fight'

KUALA LUMPUR: Suspended Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has announced that he will remain with the party.

"I have been in Umno since the 70s, so the issue of me remaining in the party or not does not arise," Muhyiddin told a press conference.

"I was chosen during the Umno annual general assembly. Would it be right of me to resign after I was chosen by the members?"

Muhyiddin said it would not be fair to Umno members if he were to resign from the party.

"I will be able to continue to fight from within. If I'm no longer an Umno member, I would not have locus standi therefore I cannot criticise," Muhyiddin said at the much-anticipated press conference.

"Now I am member I have a right to condemn what is being done by the Prime Minister."

Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir made a surprise appearance at Muhyiddin's press conference in Bukit Damansara.

Muhyiddin was abroad on Feb 26 when the Umno supreme council made the decision to suspend him as deputy president for failing to support party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The supreme council decided that Muhyiddin will remain as Pagoh Umno chief.

The suspension, effective until the next Umno elections, came after Muhyiddin’s continued attacks on Najib's handling of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and RM2.6bil political donation issues.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also deputy prime minister, has assumed the duties of deputy president.

On July 28, 2015, Muhyiddin was sacked from the Cabinet along with Shafie, then Rural and Regional Development Minister.