Five members of Gopeng Umno Wanita have resigned from the party today after their chief Hamidah Osman was sacked.

The five announced their resignation at a press conference in Ipoh together with Hamidah who had called for the conference to formally respond to her sacking.

One of those who resigned, Gopeng Umno committee member Kalsom Abdul Hamid, said she was slighted by her boss' sacking as her chief had done no wrong.

"I have been with her (Hamidah) for more than 25 years. She is innocent and it's really sad," said Kalsom.

The others who resigned were Unmo Gopeng Wanita information chief Maziah Khaudan, division Wanita treasury Haziah Samah, division Wanita assistant secretary Fatimah Abdul Rahman and division committee member Fatimah Mohd Isa.

Hamidah was seen hugging her former Umno colleagues as some of them wept.

Some of them were heard shouting "Long live Hamidah" and "On with the struggle". They also sang the song 'Inilah Barisan Kita'.

On Tuesday, Umno president Najib Abdul Razak announced that Hamidah was sacked from the party for disciplinary reasons.

Hamidah was previously given a show-cause letter for welcoming Umno veteran Dr Mahathir Mohamad at Subang International Airport.

Mahathir had been highly critical of Najib and had vowed to ensure his ouster.

Hamidah, too, had been critical of Najib and had called for his resignation over scandals, including his handling of 1MDB and the discovery of RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts.

Hamidah was among the seven leaders on Umno's watchlist.

Party deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and vice-president Shafie Apdal were also said to be on the list.

However, no action was taken against them as it was opposed by some members of the Umno supreme council who feared it may cause further split in the party

Both Muhyiddin and Shafie were dropped from the government in July for their criticism of Najib's handling of 1MDB which is struggling to repay its US$11 billion in debt.