Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin said he voiced his concerns on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion deposited in Premier Najib Abdul Razak's account to the cabinet because it was also the concern of the people and the Pagoh division.

For this, he was sacked as deputy prime minister, he said at a gathering to show solidarity with him at Pagoh today.

He is now he prepared to face the sack as deputy president of Umno and party member, he added.

However he questioned if his actions were against the party constitution or what he did was a crime.

"Now they are extending action on me by not allowing me to speak in the Umno assembly. Is he (Najib) afraid of a single man that he has broken party tradition in not allowing the deputy president to speak?

"He said he has the support of three million Umno members but do you in Pagoh, support him?" he asked, noting that the Teluk Kemang and Puchong branches are also calling for Najib ( photo ) to quit.

"I am aware of my actions and my speech may anger someone but I will continue to speak up for the people and in the interest of the nation.

"Never mind if the people of Putrajaya may not hear what I say but I am glad the people of Pagoh are with me.

"Nobody lives forever and I cannot bear the sin if I remain quiet. If they want to expel me then do so but do not ignore my contributions for 36 years."

It was previously reported that 200 branches had demanded that Najib resign.

PM Najib has denied any wrongdoing.

Independent representative

Muhyiddin further asked whether if the Pagoh Umno division were prepared to have an independent representative to which the 1000 strong crowd said they were prepared to stick with him through thick and thin.

“I've met several Malaysians overseas. Before, they said they were proud of this country. But now they say they are ashamed because of 1MDB,” he disclosed.

Muhyiddin also recited a hadith by Prophet Muhammad that if something was not right, then stop it with your hands, if you cannot stop it by saying you are against it, and if you cannot stop it by hating it.

The former deputy prime minister also recalled that the first Caliph, Abu Bakar Saddiq, had reminded the people that even though he was their leader, they should continue to advise him and correct him when he was wrong.

“I brought up the issue in the cabinet to utter my concern as the 1MDB is no ordinary issue. I used the proper channel by voicing it in the cabinet. I advised Najib to resign as 1MDB chief adviser so there could be investigations done and he could clear his name by correcting what had gone wrong.”

Institutions being undermined

Muhyiddin added that today, various institutions in a democratic government like the police, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission and the Attorney General's Chambers are being undermined.

“It is as if we are living in a police state. If it is not enough to undermine government institutions, the institutions in the party are also being weakened by undermining its democracy.

“I have the right to speak in the party assembly as I was elected by over 100,000 delegates in the party elections.

"But they want to stop me from doing this. And those who are against him (Najib) are sacked. Does he think the party belongs to him?,” he asserted, echoing what former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said earlier, that it was as if the party belonged to Najib alone.

During the event Muhyiddin heard the pledge from 1,000 branch leaders from the 106 branches in Pagoh, along with MIC, MCA and Gerakan members in the division, voicing support for him.

Earlier, a branch leader, Samad Arifin, had asked if questioning a leader now is considered taboo .

Muhyiddin in his 80 minute speech, also pledged to continue to speak up for the people and nation regardless of what might happen in the future.

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