KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno disciplinary board suspended two members, one of them a blogger, and issued warnings against three others for breaching the party’s code of ethics.
The heaviest penalty was handed to Batu Puteri Umno chief Nor Aisah Rajab, who was given a two-term or six-year suspension, effective Jan 23.
Board chairman Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said Nor Aisah was found guilty of slander for lodging a false complaint on money politics against another party member.
Taiping Umno Youth member Muzamir Ismail was suspended a year, effective Jan 23, for posting a slanderous picture of a leader on his blog. Although he had later apologised for his action, Tengku Ahmad said the penalty remained in place.
Zaidi Mohd Said from the Permatang Pauh division, Shaidan Hashim (Langkawi) and Zailan Mokhtar (Bukit Bintang) were given warnings.
Nine other members were found innocent of charges laid against them: Datuk Nawawi Ahmad, Kasa Hamzah and Shahberi Halim from the Langkawi division; Mohd Jais Sarday and Mazlan Ahmad (Kluang); Hamidah Osman (Gopeng); Noorazamuddin Ahmad and Mohd Rodzi Abdul Rahman (Permatang Pauh); and Norman Mohamad Nor (Rasah).
Tengku Ahmad said the board had received 976 complaints from 2007 to Jan 28 this year.
“Sixty-five members were given show-cause letters, of which 30 were found guilty, and 33 were innocent.
“Two other cases were handed over to the Umno supreme council for further action.
“Most of the cases involved members who had acted as agents for other members and had been found to have breached party disciplinary rules,” he told reporters at the Umno headquarters here Wednesday.
To a question, Tengku Ahmad said the board’s activities were different from that of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
However, the board would carry out additional investigations on a case-by-case basis when Umno members are detained by the MACC.
He added that the board investigates ethics-related issues, while the MACC is involved in criminal cases.
Tengku Ahmad also said Umno would hand over its own cases to the MACC if need be.
“We depend on our own investigations and not just what is done by the MACC. We also don’t have the full arsenal of MACC weapons at our disposal, such as the power to interrogate someone.
“We may meet up with MACC to exchange ideas and recommendations to help clean up the party though,” he added.
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