The group’s secretariat said in a statement that Muhyiddin’s suspension was not a wise move by the party in attracting the support of younger voters at the next general election.

The group, which calls itself the Coalition of Branch Chiefs Malaysia (Gerakan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia), accused the party’s Supreme Council of living under a rock while young people had grown up in a borderless world with the freedom to express their opinions.

The coalition comprising a handful of Umno branch leaders aligned to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has campaigned against Najib’s leadership for the past year, seeking his ouster as Umno president and prime minister.

The statement said Umno’s action against Muhyiddin was due to criticism of Najib over a RM2.6 billion political donation, and funds purportedly from a state-owned company found in his personal bank accounts.

A special prayer session will be held for divine retribution against Umno Supreme Council members who unanimously voted to suspend Muhyiddin yesterday and their names publicised “so that voters will know them and not vote them at the next general election”.

The group also threatened to expose the wrongdoings of the party leadership.