Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has issued a dramatic appeal to party members not to retreat or surrender in the face of “cruelty and oppression.”

He said even if leaders fall, others must take their place to continue with the struggle.

In a Facebook posting today, the Ketereh MP said Umno members must never “sell or pawn” the struggle, let alone retreat or surrender.

“If one of us in the front (top leadership) falls or is captured, the next line must step forward to carry the torch... and if the replacements also fall, then those behind (them) must come forward.

“And if our struggle is banned, we must never surrender. The struggle for Allah cannot be defeated or broken. We are caliphs, and behind us, there is history.

“Thrust your swords albeit with your teeth or tongues... or through a pen and broken fingers... keep fighting,” he added.

According to Umno Online, the posting comes in the wake of reports of Umno being pressured and its leaders arrested under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act (Amla) 2001.

It also noted that even Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could be arrested soon.

Previously, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam had accused Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad of using Amla similar to how his previous administration had incarcerated political rivals under the Internal Security Act 1960.

He also claimed that Umno lawmakers were being threatened with charges under Amla if they do not quit the party.