The Umno rebels, who had openly criticised President Najib Razak over 1MDB, were sacked after the party’s Supreme Council decided that the duo had breached party discipline.

At a press conference, Najib explained Muhyiddin’s and Mukhriz’s decision to share the stage with Opposition leaders in recent times and their constant attacks on Umno were among the contributing factors that led to their sacking.

“Based on their actions, the Supreme Council decided to sack them both,” Najib, who is also the prime minister, said.

Fellow Umno rebel and Vice-President Mohd Shafie Apdal’s membership, on the other hand, was suspended until the disciplinary committee completes its report on him.

The party’s decision to axe the duo comes as no surprise, especially for Muhyiddin, who was suspended as Umno’s No. 2 earlier this year.

Umno leaders, namely Secretary-General Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Supreme Council member Nazri Aziz had in the past urged the party to take action against Muhyiddin for undermining Najib’s administration.

Prior to this, Muhyiddin and Shafie were dropped as the deputy prime minister and rural and regional development minister respectively in last year’s Cabinet reshuffle.

In February, Mukhriz stepped down as the Kedah Menteri Besar after he lost the majority support of the assemblymen in the state.

Mukhriz, who is the son to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, claimed that among the reasons he was pressured to step down was because he had criticised 1MDB and had raised issues regarding the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts.