KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — Umno members will always place the interests of the party above the interests of any individual, vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

Hishammuddin also said that despite issues within the party leadership, Umno will still remain a united front going into its annual general assembly next month.

“This party’s survival will not be decided by certain individuals and personalities... it will be decided by our majority members.

“History has shown that our majority members do not act on emotions or the current issues... history has shown that from the days of Datuk Onn, to the days of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking, many have already taken it to the streets even, but in the end, the majority of them always place the party as their priority,” Hishammuddin told reporters.

“A lot of people have gone down in Umno including my grandfather, the founder, but the grandson is still VP of Umno... It’s not about the ending of the party; it’s something more than matters which become a sensation during the Umno season.

“We’re looking at bigger things, the struggles and, situation for the Malays, which are more important than individuals… the survival of the party does not depend on drama,” Hishammuddin added.

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal were removed from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Cabinet in a reshuffle back in July, ostensibly for being critical of the government’s handling of the controversial 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Both of them still remain as Umno deputy president and vice-president respectively, but have been blocked from addressing delegates at the Umno AGM.