KUALA LUMPUR: Isham Jalil is asking for the action to be brought against him as a means to boost himself, said Umno Supreme Council Datuk Mohd Razlan Rafii.
He said that whatever action being taken against him will be used for his political mileage as he has no grassroot followers.
"His actions are as if he wants to invite the thing to happen to him to be used as mileage for him to improve himself, so to speak.
"Whatever action that was taken against him is to make himself popular.
"Isham has no grassroot followings, he has never been a branch leader. He has never felt the hardship of a party member to uplift his party," Razlan said.
Earlier, according to sources attending the meeting who requested anonymity, Isham was sacked from the party with immediate effect.
Umno leaders, when met after the meeting was concluded, however kept mum on the matter.
No official statement has been issued by Umno regarding Isham's sacking.
Isham has been vocal towards the party on many occasions, particularly on its cooperation with DAP.
Yesterday, Isham, in a video posted on his Facebook, said the loss of Umno-Barisan Nasional in the Kemaman by-election was due to some Umno members who were lackeys of DAP.
He claimed that the party was being rejected by the Malays because the party, which should be advocating for Malays and Islam, had deviated and was now willing to become a "lackey of DAP".
Previously, on Sept 11, Isham called for the party to contest under the Barisan Nasional (BN) umbrella and distance itself from Pakatan Harapan (PH) and DAP, in any future elections.
He said that by doing so, it would help win back grassroots' support, especially among those who rejected Umno's current alliance with DAP.
Earlier today, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi challenged Isham to attend tonight's council meeting to air his grouses about Umno's cooperation with DAP in person.
Zahid said Isham had not attend the council's last three meetings.