Ibrahim Ali may have professed himself as a staunch supporter of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but the Perkasa chief has chosen to steer clear of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's latest offensive against his opponents.

Asked about the Umno supreme council's decision yesterday to sack Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin and supreme council member Mukhriz Mahathir from the party, Ibrahim refused to weigh into the matter.

"I don't want to interfere in the sacking of Mukhriz and Muhyiddin. That is Umno's business," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, the former Pasir Mas MP was willing to offer words of encouragement for the duo, stating that their sackings were part of the ups and downs of politics.

"This is Umno's politics. Whether it will cause the collapse of Umno or not, it is Umno's right. The people will judge.

"I have no advice other than to say in Islam, we need to believe that there is a reason for everything that happens," he said.

The Umno supreme council yesterday also announced the suspension of Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal, another critic of Najib.

Najib yesterday also moved to end funding to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's Perdana Leadership Foundation.

Mahathir and his allies have accused Najib of corruption and vowed to unseat him as prime minister. Najib has denied any wrongdoing.

The Umno internal purge came a day after the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed announced his resignation from the graft buster agency.

The MACC had been central in the investigations into the 1MDB scandal and the multi-billion ringgit donations in Najib's personal bank accounts.

The attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali had cleared Najib on grounds that the money was a donation.

Abu Kassim denied that he was being pressured to resign.

Speaking at the press conference today, Ibrahim urged the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong and prime minister to retain Abu Kassim.

"I also appeal to Abu Kassim to retract his resignation as MACC chief commissioner," he said.