Zaid doubts Umno can change its ways

KUALA LUMPUR: In his first public response since being sacked by Umno, former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim yesterday described the party’s action as “harsh”.

Zaid, who had been criticised for attending opposition party events, also doubted whether Umno can reform itself into a more open political organisation.

Zaid, who was sacked from the party after a three-hour supreme council meeting late Tuesday, said he was not surprised by the action but questioned the manner in which it was done.

“I have not been given the opportunity to be heard and neither am I aware of any specific violation I had committed,” Zaid, who is the founder of Zaid Ibrahim & Co, the country’s biggest law firm, told a press conference here.

He also refuted claims that he had meant to provoke anyone by attending a DAP dinner in Penang and the Parti Keadilan Rakyat annual congress last week.

“Even those who made fun of the party or advised the public to vote for the opposition were spared,” he said, in an obvious reference to Abdullah’s predecessor, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. “Perhaps there are ‘double standards’ in Umno after all,” said Zaid.

Furthermore, in September, former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail, who had allegedly described Chinese in Malaysia as “squatters” in a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election, got off relatively lightly. Despite being unapologetic for his actions, Ahmad was only given a three-year suspension and stripped from all party posts.

When the division held its annual meeting in November, Ahmad was feted as a hero and was given a warrior’s welcome, complete with the presentation of symbols of ethnic Malay identity such as a keris.

Asked whether Umno can reform itself to regain the support it had lost in the 12th general election, Zaid said: “I doubt they can. But they will have a new leader next March, so I may be wrong.”

Zaid also criticised Umno for the “route it is taking now” in promoting a race-based agenda, saying that is harming racial harmony. “Umno has become more ethnocentric and communitarian,” said Zaid.

Explaining his reform initiatives while in Umno, Zaid said he had done his best to change the political culture and values of the party by constantly talking about reform.

“Umno was once a party which had the trust of all communities. It used to be a consensus-based party during the early years of independence and which practised pragmatic policies and not false ideologies,” said Zaid. “There was no fascination for race politics then.”

For the present, the former Kota Baru MP is not thinking of joining any other political party.

While he did not rule out any comeback, Zaid said: “My newfound independence means I’m able to attend any forum and speak out on issues I feel are important for the country (to discuss).”

The outspoken lawyer said he is committed to working with .myfuture Foundation to help young people understand the importance of democracy, the rule of law, the evils of corruption and the importance of racial harmony.

In a parting shot to the party of which he had been a member for 23 years, Zaid hoped that Umno leaders would concentrate on the country’s problems instead of belittling him.

“There must be more important things for them to do,” he said.

The Edge
05/12/08