Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim claimed that he would not be in handcuffs or garbed in an orange lock-up outfit if he had quit Umno last week.

According to a posting on his official Facebook page, the former Tabung Haji chairperson said his arrest was the price he had to pay for continuing with Umno's struggle.

Azeez, who has been remanded for four days together with his brother and cousin to facilitate a MACC investigation, vowed to remain with Umno even if he lands in prison.

“This is the price I must pay for the struggle. If I had quit Umno last week, you would not see me like this.

“No matter what threats or trials may come, or even if I go to prison, I will never abandon Umno's struggle,” he said.

His comments come in the wake of allegations that Umno leaders are being threatened with court action if they do not leave the party.

Soon after the May 9 general election, the authorities raided Azeez's properties in Selangor and Kedah, seizing cash and valuables.

Azeez claimed that many of the timepieces seized by the authorities were counterfeits.

Bernama later reported that the raids were to facilitate investigations into the appointment of contractors involving Tabung Haji projects.

The case is investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009 pertaining to soliciting or receiving gratification as well as Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Amla).

Previously, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam accused Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government of using Amla as the “new ISA”.

Azeez, his brother and his cousin were detained on Sept 25 and brought to the Putrajaya Magistrate's Court the next day in handcuffs and wearing the orange lock-up outfit.