At a press conference at the Muafakat Nasional (MN) office here today, Annuar said he still did not know why he was sacked, adding that he had not been accused of any wrongdoing.

“In order to appeal, I need to know what offence I have committed so that I can evaluate whether I was wrong or right. If I’m not wrong, then I would appeal on the basis that I’m innocent.

“But until today, I don’t know (why I was sacked). I’ve never been called up or questioned, I wasn’t asked to give any explanation,” said the former Ketereh MP.

Nonetheless, he said, he held no grudges against Zahid for sacking him from Umno, the party he had joined more than 43 years ago.

He said it was his “political principle” not to have enemies, even Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim, despite their differences.

“To this day, I dare say that he (Zahid) remains my friend. I still respect him, I’m not angry or vengeful against him.

“That might be the way he manages Umno, that’s okay since he’s the president. But it’s not good to make things personal. All the more, now that I’m MN president, I want to promote love and respect.”

Annuar said he had urged the Ketereh Umno leaders and members to stick to the party despite his sacking. He said even his own family members will remain in Umno.

Last week, Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan confirmed that Annuar and two other divisional leaders had been sacked by the party, citing Clause 10.6 of the party’s constitution which gives Umno the right to expel any member.

The two other division leaders who were sacked were the Arau and Maran Wanita chiefs, Shamsiah Yasin and Fatimah Kassim.

Annuar had in the past been labelled as “Bersatu-friendly” by Umno supporters over his push to unite the party with PAS and Bersatu.

The Umno veteran, who had been with the party since 1979, was dropped from BN’s line-up for the 15th general election.

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