KUALA LUMPUR: Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was tonight sacked from Umno with immediate effect due to his actions, including attending the opposition's annual assemblies.
Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya Umno division chief Kapt (Rtd) Zahar Hashim's party membership was suspended for three years for making statements criticising the party.
At a press conference after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting here, Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the stern action was taken against Zahid as Umno needed to be consistent and avoid double standards in taking disciplinary action against errant members.
According to the Umno constitution, a sacked member could not appeal against the decision, Abdullah said.
"There were actions by Zaid seen as going against the party rules," he said.
Last Saturday, Zaid attended the opening of Parti Keadilan Rakyat's (PKR) annual national congress in Shah Alam and a day earlier, he was reported to have a meeting with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in Penang with Ipoh Timur member of parliament Lim Kit Siang also present.
On sensitive issues raised by Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, Abdullah said the matter would be discussed in a controlled manner at the next BN Supreme Council meeting.
"There is no question of hurting the feelings of others. An important mechanism to address the matter will be discussed at the meeting. There are sensitive issues, so we need to be careful," he said.
However, Abdullah advised those who wished to raise an issue or to react but would cause discomfort to the other groups to be responsible for their actions.
"All of us have to be careful, regardless of race and religion. This is a multiracial and multireligious country. Raising sensitive racial and religious issues could have adverse reactions, so one must learn to control oneself.
"It will not bring any benefit or good to the people," he said.
Asked about Umno said to be very accommodating with the actions of the other BN component parties, Abdullah said: "It does not mean that we are keeping quiet. We have also talked to the leaders about their actions."
On the claim by Seberang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah that he was being sidelined by Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid, the prime minister said Arif Shah had met him yesterday and stated that he would remain in Umno, and that he was not interested to join another party.
Arif Shah was recently said to have been offered by PKR to join the party.
On the coming Kuala Terengganu parliamentary seat by-election, Abdullah said the Umno Supreme Council had not decided on the candidate to defend the seat, left vacant following the death of its MP Datuk Razali Ismail last Friday.
Asked whether the Supreme Council would meet to discuss the choice of candidate, he said the decision needed not necessarily be made by the council. "The management committee can also choose the candidate and inform me about it," he added.
Abdullah said the Supreme Council had also decided to speed up preparations for the by-election, including activating the BN election machinery in the other states.
Meanwhile, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib said the decision to strip Zaid of his Umno membership was a matter of principle and followed the party guidelines.
"We based our decision on principles. When we go against the party rules, we must be prepared to face disciplinary action.
"This is not personal, this is normal. Before we do something, we must based our actions on the party guidelines," he said.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the decision on Zaid was unanimous.
On the coming Kuala Terengganu by-election, he said BN was confident of retaining the seat, "and I take it as a personal crusade because he was my deputy (Deputy Education Minister) and had contributed a lot".
"I feel very strongly about his sacrifices and I hope the people of Kuala Terengganu will reflect that in the upcoming by-election.
"Secondly, my grandfather (Datuk Onn Jaafar) contested in Kuala Terengganu when he was not accepted in Johor," Hishammuddin said.
Bernama
03/12/08
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