ALOR SETAR: Umno Alor Setar division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail said he has been suspended from the party for six years.
He said the same action had been taken against Pasir Salak member of Parliament Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman.
He said he was informed of the suspension by several Umno supreme council members who attended a meeting in Kuala Lumpur last night.
"I was informed by several supreme council friends by phone yesterday night," he said, adding that there has been no official word from the party's headquarters on the matter.
Mohd Yusuf believed the decision was the result of his frequent criticism of party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, eventhough he said his remarks were not made out in the open.
He said he had not thought about whether he would appeal the decision.
"I understand that the President of Umno (Ahmad Zahid) also did not state what were our mistakes in this, in the the meeting he just publicly announced our suspension to the council.
"I believe this is also a signal to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on things to come) if the House is not dissolved immediately," he said.
Mohd Yusof said that he was a bit upset because the action against him was seen to be more severe than the action against former Umno supreme council member, Datuk Lokman Noor Adam, who had maligned the Prime Minister more.
"I did criticise the president, but it was only done in the Umno division chief's WhatsApp group. Lokman criticized the Prime Minister more, but the punishment for him was not as severe as mine.
"All this time I have been considered as not a president's man, so for that reason, I said this is a signal to the Prime Minister to hold the 15th General Election (GE-15) immediately.
"I haven't thought about whether I will appeal this decision, wait for me to discuss it with the Prime Minister first and then I will think about further action," he said, adding that he was currently abroad to attend to family matters.