Muhyiddin Yassin must make some bold moves in the wake of his suspension as deputy president by Umno, analysts say, or risk being a casualty in the party chief’s bid for survival.

The most effective way for party dissidents Muhyiddin and vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal to make a dent in Umno president Najib Abdul Razak’s seemingly formidable armour is to leave, banking on creating a strong ripple effect as the two jump ship.

“If they are willing to do so, Barisan Nasional will lose at least two parliamentarians. The number may not be significant but at least there is a new show.

"Once they quit the party, it depends whether they can become the core and prompt others to follow suit," political scientist Wong Chin Huat pitched to Malaysiakini , when contacted...