KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said Umno would be abusing its powers if it expels him for criticising the party leadership.

The former prime minister was responding to calls that he be sacked along with Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for attacking the party’s leaders over various issues.

“It’s okay. They have the power to sack, even without a reason, just because they are in power,” he told reporters after closing the KL summit organised by the Malaysia-Turkey Friendship Foundation (MTF) in collaboration with Malaysian Muslim Solidarity (ISMA).

“This is an abuse of power. I am an Umno member, and I have a right to be in Umno, but whenever there is someone who criticises the party president, they are sacked.”

On Tuesday, Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that the party has sacked Gopeng Wanita Umno chief Datuk Hamidah Osman for breaking party rules.

It was speculated that Hamidah was expelled for organising a Bicara Negara event at Tower Regency Hotel, Ipoh, where Dr Mahathir spoke out against Najib and criticised him over several issues including 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor later revealed that she was expelled for sharing the “same platform as the opposition”.

Tengku Adnan said the party received information that she had spoken out against the current leadership at the opposition event, although he did not specify further details on the matter.

He also said that the party is still investigating seven other leaders for criticising Umno.