KUALA LUMPUR – Although he has not heard from the Umno disciplinary board, Khairy Jamaluddin would not be surprised if he is handed a membership suspension or a sacking.
He said this is because several leaders were not given the chance to previously defend themselves and had their membership suspended by the Supreme Council.
He told Utusan Malaysia that the disciplinary board has yet to issue any letter or calls summoning him to provide a statement or why action should be taken against him.
“On disciplinary issues, it has to be handled by the disciplinary board. But the Supreme Council has made many unilateral decisions, without referring to the disciplinary board.
“For example, Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Alor Star Umno chief. I won’t be surprised if they don’t refer me to the board,” he was quoted as saying.
When asked about a possible suspension. Khairy said he will wait for a decision to be made.
He also reiterated that any disciplinary action should go through the board, which includes due process such as issuing a show-cause letter, being summoned to provide a statement, and having discussions.
“Then only the disciplinary board can make a decision, bringing it to the attention of the party management committee and the Supreme Council.”
Khairy was a member of the management committee when he was Umno Youth chief for eight years.
The Vibes today reported that at least three embattled senior Umno leaders are facing the possibility of sacking by the party.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the trio is among a long list of Umno members whose names have been mentioned by the party’s disciplinary board for stern action.
However, the Supreme Council, which will meet at the party’s headquarters tonight, will have the final say on the matter.
This came on the back of Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s remark that the Supreme Council will determine Khairy’s fate.
Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, also confirmed that disciplinary action will not be exclusive to Khairy, noting that a massive purge can instead be expected.
Previously, Khairy, who lost the Sg Buloh parliamentary seat during the federal polls, had called for Zahid’s resignation after Umno suffered its worst electoral performance since its formation.
While campaigning in the general election, Khairy also said Umno under Zahid’s leadership had lost its way and needed “cleansing”.
Khairy was also among those who opposed the decision not to vie for the top two posts and had alleged “ghost delegates” being brought into the party’s recent general assembly to bulldoze the no-contest motion.
Previously in December, Umno had sacked former Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa, who is also a strong proponent of Barisan Nasional’s cooperation with Perikatan Nasional, for besmirching the party’s name.
Among other things, he had openly called for Zahid’s head for going against Umno’s earlier decision not to cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.
In October last year, another party bigwig, former Supreme Council member Tajuddin, was suspended from the party for his open criticism of the party president. – The Vibes, January 27, 2023
