Unhappy with criticism that his resignation will not impact Umno in the next general election, former Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal warned his rivals against insulting him.

"Some said my exit from Umno will have no impact on Semporna and other areas in Sabah in particular, not even a little.

"Don't insult me to that extent. The 14th general election is just around the corner," he said in a Facebook posting today.

On Monday, Shafie announced that he was quitting Umno, following his suspension from the party on June 24.

He had questioned the party's decision to suspend him without any input from him at the Umno supreme council meeting.

Umno minister Salleh Said Keruak, Shafie's former colleague from Sabah, had said his resignation would have no impact on Sabah Umno's strength.

Salleh said this was because most party members support what the party championed, and not the individual.