UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Razak took almost one year before conceding to the pressure by Supreme Council (MT) members to expel deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

UMNO information head Tan Sri Annuar Musa said previously UMNO MT members had repeatedly recommended that the duo be expelled after breaching party discipline on numerous occasions, but the UMNO president was patient and had refused to take any action.

"The Barisan Nasional (BN) later was faced with the Sarawak state election, but the two individuals continued to collaborate with the opposition and went against the spirit of party solidarity.

"Eventually, UMNO itself had to face the (Parliamentary) by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, which were very important to the party. But their attitude had not changed, and instead became more passionate," he said in a statement, here today.

He said that in what they attempted to describe as the "People's Referendum" against the top party leadership, they (the two) campaigned together with the opposition openly as well as quietly to see UMNO being defeated.

However, he said, the efforts failed and the people chose to give UMNO and the BN double victory.

After the by-elections, as expected, the issue of violating party discipline again cropped up. The Disciplinary Committee submitted its findings on the case involving Muhyiddin and Mukhriz and found there was a prima facie case against them, but left it to the MT to make a decision, he said.

Annuar said although the MT members had repeatedly urged the party president to take action against the duo, Najib still asked whether the decision made by the MT was unanimous, was there anyone who disagreed or had other opinions.

"Eventually, the MT made a unanimous decision," he said.

Annuar said no one should be bigger than the party, including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself.

Meanwhile, the Puteri UMNO movement also supported the proposal that action be taken against Muhyidin and Mukhriz, as well as the decision to suspend the party membership of UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal until the MT had received the report from the party Disciplinary Committee.

Its head, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said such action should have been taken a long time ago because they had done so much to taint the party's image.

"The move is seen to be appropriate when UMNO is beginning to close rank because if no action is taken to overcome their action, it could develop into something more serious," she said.