PAS vice-president Husam Musa today claimed to have received information that Umno is planning to sack its former president Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking at a press conference this evening in Kota Bahru, Kelantan, he claimed that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, in his capacity as Umno president, will propose a motion to expel Mahathir at the supreme council meeting on Monday.

Contacted later, Husam said if the information is accurate, it will prove that the Umno leadership and the government are not tolerant of criticisms and reprimands.

"I am exposing this information because I do not want Mahathir to be sacked. Imagine if a person like Mahathir can face such action, what more ordinary citizens?" he added.

Husam said he is concerned about the developments in Umno because he does not want to see the 'I'm brave because I'm right' culture displayed by Mahathir 'killed' by the government.

Mahathir was once sacked by the party after he severely criticised then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the wake of the 1969 racial riots.

Ties have soured between Mahathir and his handpicked successor over the recent weeks after the former unleashed a wave of criticism against the current administration.

While maintaining that it is nothing personal, the former premier had suggested that he could have made the wrong choice in choosing Abdullah to replace him.

Mahathir's discontent with the current administration hit the peak after it decided to scrap the half-bridge project initiated by him.

'Wiser than God'

The former premier has been demanding answers for the cancellation of the project as well as for the decisions made by national car manufacturer Proton and the discrepancies in the issuance of Approved Permits.

Despite his scathing criticisms, Abdullah has been lauded for keeping his cool and refraining from engaging in a slugfest with his former boss.

On Monday, the premier said the relevant ministries will answer the questions raised by Mahathir.

Meanwhile, Mahathir told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur late this evening that he has not heard anything about this.

"I don't know anything, I have not heard about this," he told reporters.

Umno information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib, when contacted earlier, confirmed that the party supreme council meeting will be held on Monday.

However, he claimed to be in the dark of the agenda for the meeting.

"I don't know anything about it. It seems that PAS people are wiser than God," he replied when informed of Husam's revelation.