KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Two Johor Umno veterans have left the Malay nationalist party, with one of them saying that Umno could no longer be saved.

Gelang Patah Umno permanent chairman Datuk Baharom Abdul Ghani announced his decision while making a speech at the Gelang Patah division meeting earlier today.

"I announced my decision to leave Umno during my speech as permanent chairman at the Gelang Patah Umno division meeting 10 September 2016,” Baharom said on his Facebook page.

He added that Umno was no longer a party for the Malays and that it could no longer be "saved”.

Baharom said he had founded the Gelang Patah Umno division in 1994 and was assemblyman from 1995 to 2004.

News portal Malaysiakini reported that Kulai Umno deputy chief Datuk Tosrin Jarvanti also quit the party and returned the Umno flag to the Kulai Umno division chief.

"This is the flag that I defended for 49 years, but today I willingly wish to return this flag back to my friend the division chief, with a message to all Umno division chiefs, to take good care of Umno for the Malays,” he was quoted saying.

The resignations came amid the formation of a new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, by former prime minister and ex-Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from Johor.

The Registrar of Societies has given provisional approval for the registration of the Bumiputera-centric party comprising former Umno leaders.