These decisions, taken without a disciplinary process to allow members to defend themselves, include senior leaders currently and previously holding some of the most senior positions in the party, from vice-president and supreme council to youth chief, ministers and chief ministers.
The names are familiar – Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, Noh Omar, Hasni Mohammad – all leaders loyal to the party but critical of its current leadership.
This is a purge that removes leadership challenges to Umno’s current leaders, particularly to party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his deputy, Mohamad Hasan...