KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended the party's decision to sack and suspend several party members following Umno Supreme Council's meeting last Friday.
Zahid said the decision was taken collectively to root out "internal foes" that are smearing the party leadership and to keep Umno united as it gears towards the 15th General Election (GE15).
"It is not just Umno. Other political parties do the same to ensure that their party leadership is respected.
"This decision shows that Umno is never about an individual. Umno is a party for the people and the country.
"Our primary focus will be to lay the groundwork for GE15 until the date for the big day is set," he posted on Facebook today.
After the Umno Supreme Council's meeting on Friday, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan announced that Umno
had decided to sack former Bandar Tun Razak Umno division secretary Datuk Zaharin Mohd Yasin.
The following day, Alor Star Umno division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail said that the party had suspended him as well as Pasir
Salak member of parliament Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for six years.
Earlier in June, Tajuddin was also removed from the Umno Supreme Council and replaced with former Selangor Barisan Nasional information chief Isham Jalil.