One of the nine UMNO members from the Telok Kemang division who were involved in calling for the party president to resign will face expulsion from the party.

UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who confirmed the matter, said the man was an ordinary member of a branch.

His expulsion, which had been decided by the party's Disciplinary Board, must be acknowledged by the UMNO Supreme Council (MT).

Speaking to Bernama, Tengku Adnan said the other nine members, who were all branch leaders in the division, had been penalised by the Disciplinary Board according to the level of their respective breaches.

"An ordinary member will be expelled but a letter to that effect has yet to be issued to him because it needs the endorsement by the Supreme Council.

"Five branch leaders will be suspended from participating in the party elections for two terms and lose their positions in the party, effective immediately. They have received the letter from the Disciplinary Board.

"Three other branch leaders have been issued with warning letters," he added.

Media reports earlier stated that a group of UMNO members from the Telok Kemang division had urged UMNO President Datuk Seri Najib Razak to relinquish his position in the party because they had lost confidence in his
leadership.

The group was later asked to appear before the Disciplinary Board on Dec 2 for investigation.

Asked on the differing penalty imposed on the members concerned, Tengku Adnan explained that the penalty was based on the outcome of the investigations by the Disciplinary Board and it decided on the penalty based on the level of their breaches.

"It's not only because of asking the president to resign, there are also other matters like instigating, leaking of party secrets and undermining the party.

"They have crossed the line, actions have been taken because we (the party) have rules and regulations," he said.

Tengku Adnan did not elaborate on the level of breaches committed.