Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin remains unfazed over the decision which prevents him from officiating at the party wings' joint general assembly next month.

The Pagoh lawmaker vowed that his lips cannot be sealed.

“Nobody can silence me,” he said in a statement regarding the Umno supreme council’s decision for the respective wings’ chief to officiate at the annual meets.

Muhyiddin said for the past six years as deputy president, he delivered his address to the Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno delegates who come from all over the nation.

"It is the most important speech to party members in the hope that Umno remains strong in facing the challenges ahead.

"It looks like I would not be able to deliver my address in an event which is very meaningful to me as deputy president. This is a bid to prevent me from giving a speech. I am told there are certain quarters who want to prevent me from speaking.

"What is my sin to the party since as party deputy president and by tradition, I should be allowed to speak this year?" he asked.

“Or are they afraid with what I would say in front of the younger leaders, which they think might diminish their confidence in a certain leader.

"While I respect the supreme council’s decision I would remind them that in a free and independent country, there is no one who can silence me.

“I will continue to say what is right. My struggle in Umno is not to defend anyone but to uplift the country, race and religion," he added.

Unprecedented move

Yesterday, in an unprecedented move, at the Umno supreme council meeting at Parliament, party president and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak announced that Muhyiddin will not address the Umno wings at their general assemblies next month.

Breaking party tradition, Najib said Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri chiefs will officiate at the assemblies themselves.

“This is a suggestion from the wings. This is what they wanted and so we respect their wishes," he said.

Muhyiddin further said that he would remain steadfast in this noble struggle and quoted the Quran, from the Al Imran chapter verse 159, which said: “And when you have decided, then rely upon Allah. Indeed, Allah loves those who rely [upon Him].”

Muhyiddin and party vice-president Shafie Apdal, who have been staunch critics of 1MDB, were removed from the cabinet on July 29.

The move saw senior Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi replacing Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister.