An Umno veteran lambasted Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following his expulsion from the party.

Abd Zarin Mohd Yassin also vowed to work towards ousting Abdullah - who is also Umno president - even if it means joining hands with the opposition.

The Umno supreme council yesterday sacked Abd Zarin for criticising the party and its leadership, especially the president, through his blog Sang Kelembai .

Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said the disciplinary committee proposed that Abd Zarin be suspended but the "leadership wanted to send a clear signal to all".

However, this has failed to silence the vocal former Bandar Tun Razak Umno division secretary who continued his attack against Abdullah on his blog.

"I accept the sacking and consider it a blessing which will stop me from supporting an organisation led by a president whom I feel is inclined towards ' munafik ' (hypocritical) traits.

"The sacking will free me from the binds of the new Umno constitution which throttles the space to criticise and reprimand leaders, an action which is against the principles of Islam Hadhari.

"My sacking proves that the Umno leadership cannot be criticised ... (and) as to criticising the prime minister, it is regarded as a big sin in the party," he said.

'Oust Pak Lah'

Abd Zarin, who has been with Umno for more than three decades, said he would not appeal against the decision and will apply to rejoin the party when Abdullah is no longer the president.

"The sacking will open up more space for me to write and attend whatever functions to expose the lies of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," he said.

"If I am involved in any ceramah (public talks), including those by the opposition, it will be part of my struggle to prevent the people from being lied to by Abdullah...

"I am committed to ensuring that he resigns or is ousted as prime minister in a democratic way in the coming elections," he added.

According to Abd Zarin, ousting a prime minister is not something new as it happened during the 1969 elections.

"It would not be impossible that in the coming elections, Malaysians - the Malays, Chinese, Indians and other ethnic groups - will vote for the opposition," he said.

'Rather die'

Abd Zarin who said he would "rather die than support a munafik leader" also expressed his "gratitude" to the Umno supreme council members who decided to sack him.

"I am sure the supreme council knows that by being outside of Umno, it will make it easier for me to expedite the fall of Abdullah," he added.

In 1996, Abd Zarin was reportedly kicked out of the party by the Umno disciplinary board headed by then deputy president Anwar Ibrahim for criticising his leadership.

Abd Zarin rejoined Umno in 1998 after Anwar was expelled.

Meanwhile, party secretary-general Radzi stressed that Abd Zarin's sacking had nothing to do with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been on the warpath with Abdullah.