Former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is not involved in the plot to topple the government, said UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The deputy prime minister said he had to reveal the matter as he and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir were close with the UMNO deputy president.

"I have to reveal this in Lumut because personally I and Zambry are close with Tan Sri Muhyiddin.

"We (Ahmad Zahid dan Zambry) used to fall together (in politics). We understand how it feels, so we don't step or stamp on people who fall," he said when opening the Lumut UMNO divisional delegates meeting on Sunday.

Also present were Zambry, who is Perak UMNO liaison committee chairman and Lumut UMNO division leader and Perak UMNO liaison secretary Datuk Saarani Mohammad.

Ahmad Zahid also exposed an alleged plot to coax 37 Members of Parliament (MPs) from Barisan Nasional, 87 from the opposition and an Independent member so that a motion of no-confidence could be tabled after the Budget is tabled in October.

"They will use the point of order to challenge the Speaker by saying they have the majority, which is 125," he said.

Ahmad Zahid said a leader should not be sentenced by the people's court by raising various baseless issues without going through the legal process.

"This, purportedly is not a plot to topple the government, but to bring down Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and for the purpose of forming a unity government," he added.

He said it should not be allowed to happen because the people should regard the Prime Minister as an institution that should be upheld.

"We do not want Malaysia to be ruled by a puppet Prime Minister who is appointed based on a mutaah political marriage. I am willing to shed my blood to defend the country because I do not want the country to be governed by parties which entered through the back door," he added.