KUALA LUMPUR – Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has been given the boot from the party as part of an internal purge, ending weeks of speculation about his fate.
Another high-profile member, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who once served as the party vice-president, has been given a six-year suspension.
Khairy confirmed his sacking in a tweet, saying, “Tonight I was sacked by the party I love, that I was always loyal to. Unbowed, unbent, unbroken.”
Malam ini saya dipecat oleh parti yang saya sayang, yang saya berikan kesetiaan. Unbowed, unbent, unbroken.
— Khairy Jamaluddin ??? (@Khairykj) January 27, 2023
Two Umno sources close to the leadership also confirmed this with The Vibes.
Six-year suspensions were also handed out to several other bigwigs, including former Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif, former Umno Youth exco member Datuk Fathul Bari Mat Jaya, and Tebrau division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang, according to the source.
The actions taken by the party, which were announced by president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during the Umno Supreme Council meeting, were based on recommendations made by the disciplinary board.
Earlier, Tan Sri Noh Omar said he was to be suspended, but had asked to be sacked from Umno with immediate effect, and the president had agreed.
The sackings and suspensions were also just confirmed by Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi on Facebook.
“Total cleansing. Bitter but necessary. Those sacked are KJ and Noh Omar,” wrote Puad, who also confirmed the other names of those suspended, including Hishammuddin.
Action taken for violating party discipline
In an official statement later, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan confirmed the disciplinary actions taken against the aforementioned names, barring Fathul Bari.
Ahmad said the individuals were penalised for violating party discipline during the recent 15th general election (GE15), and that the actions were taken in line with the Umno constitution.
Other than Khairy and Noh, Ahmad also announced that a total of 42 Umno members have been similarly expelled with immediate effect, of which five are from the Pasir Gudang division, nine from Putrajaya, two from Tg Karang, and 26 from Pahang.
“Their offences include contesting as an independent candidate or under a different party banner, and involvement in assisting rival parties during the general election.”
Previously, Khairy, who lost the Sg Buloh parliamentary seat in the federal polls, had called for Zahid’s resignation after Umno suffered its worst electoral performance since its formation, while accusing the party of losing its way and needing “ internal cleansing”.
He was also among those who opposed the decision to leave the top two posts uncontested, and had alleged that “ghost delegates” were brought into the party’s recent general assembly to bulldoze the no-contest motion.
Hishammuddin, meanwhile, is said to have led a separate faction against Zahid within Umno, and was one of the 10 Barisan Nasional MPs who previously declared support for Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister, following the conclusion of GE15.
On other matters, Ahmad said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has been appointed as the state Johor liaison chief, replacing former menteri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad.
Ahmad also announced that the party will hold its internal polls to elect its new Supreme Council members and divisional committee on March 18 this year.
The elections for the party’s wings’ leadership lineups, meanwhile, will be held a week earlier on March 11.
Ahmad added that party veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Ab Samad has been appointed as the chairman of Umno’s election committee. – The Vibes, January 28, 2023
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