MUAR, Nov 7 — Incumbent Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim claimed he will "sack” Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi after Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri was reappointed as prime minister, shortly after his expulsion from the party today.

He told Malay Mail he already expected to be sacked from Umno after choosing to contest the Arau seat for Perikatan Nasional after the Malay nationalist party dropped him as a candidate for the 15th general election.

"It is not a problem. After this I will sack Zahid,” he said, seemingly indifferent to the news of his sacking.

"I can sack because when Ismail Sabri becomes PM, I will be back and I will sack him,” Shahidan said when asked as to how he would "sack” Zahid.

However, the phone connection was disconnected before Shahidan could elaborate and Malay Mail was unable to reach Shahidan again.

Shahidan is the caretaker Federal Territories minister, after Ismail Sabri selected him to join his Cabinet upon replacing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

In a statement earlier, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan announced the expulsion of Shahidan, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Mutallib and Datuk Azhar Ahmad for contesting against the party’s candidates in GE15.

Padang Besar incumbent Zahidi is contesting as an independent there, Ismail in Maran and Azhar for the Kuala Perlis state seat.

He cited Clause 20.11 of the party constitution that provided for the automatic expulsion of members who contest against the party either as an independent or for a rival organisation.

"With the termination of this membership, their positions at the Umno division level will be assumed by the deputy Umno chief of that division,” Ahmad said.

He added that Umno was also investigating several other members before further action is taken, including those seen accompanying the four candidates during the nomination process on November 5.

Ahmad said that their actions could be construed as supporting candidates from rival parties.