Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he would not appeal against his suspension as the party’s deputy president.

“I had anticipated the UMNO Supreme Council’s decision. It did not come as a surprise to me,” he said in a statement on Facebook today.

He accused UMNO of not adhering to procedure in his suspension as he was not given a show cause letter and was not given time to defend himself.

“I was not brought before the disciplinary board to allow it to make a case to the Supreme Council. Any ordinary member would be given a chance to defend himself but I am continuously punished,” he wrote.

“It appears as though the Supreme Council could not wait to suspend me. However, I will not appeal against the decision,” he said.

In his statement, Muhyiddin also vowed to continue to speak out and thanked those who had given their support to him.

“I appreciate those who had stated their support to fight with me. Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir have earlier stated their support to me and I thank them,” he said.

He also thanked UMNO grassroots and UMNO Pagoh for their support.

Yesterday, UMNO’s powerful Supreme Council suspended Muhyididn from the party with immediate effect.

This was announced by party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor at the party headquarters at Menara Dato' Onn.

READ: UMNO suspends Muhyiddin, Zahid stands in as deputy president

Throughout Muhyiddin's suspension period, vice president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would bear the duties and responsibilities of deputy president Muhyiddin’s duties until the next party election in 2018.

UMNO vice president, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the decision to suspend Muhyiddin from his party post was made through a consensus by all members of the party's Supreme Council.

READ: 'Consensus decision-making on Muhyiddin's suspension'

READ: Muhyiddin's suspension draws mixed reaction from UMNO leaders

Hishammuddin said it was based on the desire of the party leadership to see the party move forward.