PUTRAJAYA, Feb 29 — Umno dissidents made up of several party branch chiefs will decide tonight whether they will follow Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s move in leaving the party or stay put as members.

The group calling itself the Coalition of Branch Chiefs Malaysia (GKCM), said that an emergency high-level meeting will be convened tonight to decide on whether the group made up of over 400 branch chiefs should also leave Umno.

“GKCM’s position will be decided tonight. A decision on whether GKCM will soldier on with Umno will be decided after our emergency meeting later tonight,” GKCM’s deputy president Rushdan Mohamed told reporters here, after a press conference by Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir had earlier announced his resignation from Umno, expressing disappointment over the party that he claimed is only dedicated to protecting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his alleged misdeeds.

I want to leave Umno because it is no longer Umno. It is a party dedicated to supporting Najib, protecting Najib and I cannot be a member of such a party.

“I won’t call it Umno anymore, it is Najib’s party,” Dr Mahathir told reporters in his office here at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.