KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 — Umno’s Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, the Penang Umno divisional leader who lodged a complaint against 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), may soon receive sacking orders from the ruling party, a report claimed today.

According to news portal Malaysiakini, the Batu Kawan Umno deputy chief is unsure, however, of the news, which he said he received from his friends who heard it on TV3.

“I have not been informed at all. My friends said the news was on TV3,” he was quoted telling the news portal.

Khairuddin also reportedly refused to speculate if his alleged sacking may be due to his 1MDB report.

Penang Umno chief Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman, when contacted by the news portal, would neither confirm nor deny the news.

“There is a letter from Umno secretary general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor to Umno Penang’s secretary Musa Sheikh Fadzir on this matters, so it’s only proper to let Musa brief the press,” he was quoted saying.

Khairuddin had previously lodged a police report against 1MDB and its subsidiaries, alleging “questionable” business, investment and fund raising transactions and decisions.

It was reported that Khairuddin is backed by “powerful forces” in the party and that he decided to lodge the report following various reports, in both the local and foreign as well as online media agencies, which had allegedly proved the flaws in 1MDB’s management of taxpayers’ money.

Last month, the leader lodged a report with the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Explaining his move, he told reporters that he was not working under the orders of anyone.

“No one is influencing me to do this... I am acting as a concerned citizen and a taxpayer,” he said then.

“I am lodging this report because I want the authorities to investigate the claims..if this thing is left without attention it will spark outcry.

“I am telling you 1MDB would be the downfall of Umno and Barisan Nasional,” he said.

Umno leaders previously claimed Khairuddin’s attack against 1MDB was personal and to spite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Khairuddin, however, has denied the allegations.

“It has nothing to do with Najib. Yes, he sits on the advisory board but he is not involved in the day-to-day operations, so it is not about Najib,” he said.

Tengku Adnan previously urged Khairuddin to retract the police report, saying that the move was not in line with Umno’s stand nor that of Penang Umno.

But Khairuddin said he will not back down and will continue to pursue the case.

“I will press on. I will fight to the death to find justice,” he said.