Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin has declared that he would not be turning his back on the struggle to uphold "the truth" and prevent Malaysia from becoming a failed state.

"This is the start of a struggle. The struggle to heal Malaysia. The struggle to make Malaysia a better country," said Muhyiddin in a Facebook posting last night.

The struggle, he said, would be one that is based on the principle of standing by what is right.

"For me, we must have principles in life. The most important principle is to stand by what is right.

"Never should we defend what is wrong. As a Muslim, this is a demand of the religion," said Muhyiddin, whose criticisms of state-investor 1MDB had cost him his deputy prime minister's post.

Since being relieved of his cabinet duties, there were mounting rumours that Muhyiddin, along with several other Umno leaders who had spoken out against Najib, would be sacked from the party.

Muhyiddin, however, expressed confidence that most Malaysians share his principle of standing by the truth.

In stressing that he would remain to fight with those who share his views, the Pagoh MP said that success would only come through unity and willingness to take actions for creation of a better Malaysia.

His latest remark comes nearly a week after attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali had cleared Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak of any wrongdoings linked to state investor 1MDB.

In his post, Muhyiddin said the biggest problem facing Malaysia today is an absence of the spirit that ensures its leaders hold fast to good values in life.

"That is why criminal breach of trust happens - no responsibility to the people and perhaps even no fear for Allah SWT's retributions," said Muhyiddin who noted that there seem to be no end to the conflicts facing the country.

"The mystery surrounding the loss of public funds and national assets will not be resolved, although for those in the know, it was akin to daylight robbery.

"Tales will continue to be spun to pull the wool over people's eyes in order to hide the wrongdoings of certain individuals. The justice demanded will not be so easily upheld," he said in a direct reference to the controversies surrounding alleged financial mismanagements linked to 1MDB and monies which went into Najib’s bank accounts.

Since his removal from Cabinet, Muhyiddin said he had gone all over the country and met with people who asked him, "What is happening to Malaysia?”.

“We know that previously there have been civil servants, businessmen and politicians who were investigated, charged, and later punished for misuse of public funds and corruption.

“But when it comes to the country’s biggest financial scandal involving 1MDB and SRC International, not a single person was charged.

“In fact, there is a party that is blatantly defending the wrongdoings of certain individuals though I know deep in the corner of their hearts, they too know what actually happened,” he noted.

The alleged financial mismanagements linked to 1MDB is now the subject of investigations by several foreign authorities.

In Malaysia, however, Apandi has cleared Najib of any wrongdoings based on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigations into RM42 million from SRC International and the RM2.6 billion donation.

Apandi also pledged full cooperation with Swiss authorities who had made a public request for assistance, although he insisted it was a different sum than what was investigated by MACC.

Swiss authorities had also later said Najib is not among those under its probe.

Both Najib and 1MDB has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the cases investigated.