Johor UMNO accepts party's decision to sack Muhyiddin, Mukhriz

Johor UMNO state liaison committee chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin today extended his appreciation towards the trio, particularly Muhyiddin whom he regarded as someone who has contributed greatly to the state.

Mohamed Khaled also expressed hope that all of Johor UMNO, Pagoh especially, would accept the decision in a calm manner and consider it as a challenge that would help them grow.

"How we accept this will resemble our maturity. Pagoh, especially, need to be calm and rational and consider this as a test," he told reporters at a Ramadan event here.

Meanwhile, Mohamed Khaled, who is also Johor MB, underlined four reasons why Johor UMNO supported the decision made by the party's top leadership.

"Firstly, for 70 years UMNO has always chosen to project itself as a organisation that is based on unity.

"Secondly, party discipline and courtesy has its limits, although the party practises an open concept and thrives on difference of opinions," he said.

Thirdly, he said arguments within the party should be resolved quickly to avoid disunity and factionalism.

"Finally, the decision made was clearly the final word and direct recognition, to those who choose to fight for UMNO," he said.

Mohamed Khaled said Johor had suffered a similar situation before in the 1990s, and he, as Johor Bahru UMNO Youth division chief back then, had confronted the issue rationally.

"At that time, Tan Sri Shahrir Samad who was our Johor Bahru UMNO division chief, was suspended. But we didn't run the party down. Tan Sri Shahrir also didn't choose to align himself with the Opposition and share the stage with them or anything like that," he said.

The UMNO Supreme Council (MT) yesterday had unanimously decided to sack Muhyiddin, who was deputy president, and Mukhriz who was MT member, from the party.

As for Mohd Shafie, he had been suspended from the MT.