'Consensus decision-making on Muhyiddin's suspension'

UMNO vice president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said it was based on the desire of the party leadership to see the party move forward.

"I myself chaired the meeting after party president, Datuk Seri Najib Razak decided to take a neutral stance in the matter.

"The decision was made by the party's top leadership via a consensus and based on our desire to move forward," he said when met at the lobby of Menara Dato Onn at the Putra World Trade Centre here after the UMNO Supreme Council meeting today.

Earlier, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had announced that Muhyiddin’s suspension would take immediate effect until the next party elections.

Tengku Adnan said the decision was made after the Supreme Council members discussed for more than two hours on the motion for the suspension.

Meanwhile, UMNO information chief, Tan Sri Annuar Musa explained that what's important now is the effort to get the party back on track.

"We think about what's best for the party. The party cannot move if the office bearers are not carrying out their duties as enshrined in the party constitution.

"We are a party with huge roles and responsibilities, we need to move forward," he said.

Similar views were expressed by another Supreme Council member, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who said the decision to suspend Muhyiddin was made based on what's stipulated in the party constitution.

"UMNO has shown its strength that this party is based on constitution and discipline – the backbone of any political party in the world," he said.