KOTA KINABALU, July 4 – Umno vice president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal today announced his resignation from the party, 10 days after he was suspended by the party’s supreme council.
The Semporna MP said he was quitting over the party’s decision to suspend him without first getting his explanation.
“But I will continue my struggle for Sabahans and fight for us against any wrongdoing in the country,” he said in a heated speech that was broadcast via the Facebook Live application today.
He has just returned from performing the umrah today and was greeted by supporters and well wishers at his hometown in Semporna.
In his hour-long speech, Shafie emphasised his loyalty to the party, insisting that he never strayed or conspired with the opposition during his time in Umno.
Shafie questioned the sequence of events leading to his suspension, and maintained that there was no investigation conducted prior to the supreme council’s decision.
Earlier on Twitter, he also said that as a vice president of the party, it was his responsibility to keep the leadership in check.
“Suspend first then investigate? Up to the disciplinary board to investigate? Punishment first, then investigate?” he said.
On June 24, Umno announced that it was sacking deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah mentri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir for cooperating with the opposition, while Shafie was to be suspended.
Shafie was among the first casualties of Umno infighting over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue, when he was dropped from the Cabinet along with Muhyiddin in a reshuffle last year.
Muhyiddin and Mukhriz announced shortly after their expulsion that they were evaluating new platforms from which to continue their criticism of the Umno leadership. It is not yet known if Shafie will join them.
