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KUALA LUMPUR – Sacked Umno leader Datuk Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz has accused the party president of being the sole power behind the disciplinary board, saying the panel has lost its true function and is merely an ornament for the party’s number one.
Tun Faisal, who was formerly Putrajaya Umno deputy division chief, said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had made a show of the disciplinary board to make it appear relevant.
“It has become a ‘jewel’ for the president to strengthen his power, because in reality, the disciplinary board is not functioning; it hands down punishments without due process.
“My punishment from the board was not based on facts, which proves that it is just a ‘cartoon’,” Tun Faisal said in an interview with Getaran, The Vibes’ sister news portal.
He was among more than 40 party members who were recently sacked or suspended in a massive purge on January 27, as Zahid seeks to consolidate his control of the party ahead of internal elections.
Umno is also in the unity government with Pakatan Harapan (PH), and Zahid is a deputy prime minister as well as rural and regional development minister.
Zahid had been faced with calls to step down after leading Umno through the 15th general election in November, to its worst-ever performance of only 26 parliamentary seats.
Tun Faisal, who was formerly press secretary to another sacked leader, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said the proper disciplinary process was not followed in the previous punishments case of several party figures.
Citing examples, Tun Faisal said Datuk Lokman Noor Adam’s 2020 sacking was decided by the political bureau (he was readmitted in 2021), while Muhammad Azri Wan Deris or the blogger known as Papagomo, was suspended for six years in 2021 without due process.
Former Alor Star Umno division chief Mohd Yusof Ismail was suspended for six years, last year, in a shock decision without basis, while former Pasir Salak Umno leader Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman was “simply” suspended, Tun Faisal also claimed.
In the recent purge, high-profile names who were sacked from Umno include former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Zahid’s litany of ‘sins’
Tun Faisal, who was formerly Umno Putrajaya deputy division chief, said these sackings and suspension were over criticisms of Zahid, whom he called “power crazy” and unable to accept constructive reprimands.
Tun Faisal said these criticisms were never against Umno itself but were aimed at individuals out of concern for the party.
If anyone had gone against the party, it was Zahid himself when he signed a statutory declaration supporting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, and got other Umno MPs to do the same at a time when it was still party policy not to support Anwar or PH.
“Has there ever been any other president who violated the party’s collective decision? I find it strange when Zahid says he cannot compromise with those who question the integrity of Umno.
“Yet, he was the one behind ‘illegal’ motions at the recent Umno general assembly such as the no-contest motion for the presidency and deputy president’s post,” Tun Faisal said.
‘Teach Zahid a lesson’
Tun Faisal was open about urging those suspended to leave the party, including MPs. This would trigger anti-hopping laws and cause them to lose their parliamentary seats and by-elections to be held, he opined.
Such an outcome would teach Zahid a lesson, he said, adding that this scenario is “not impossible”.
He said there are party members who feel wronged because they voted for Umno candidates in GE15, trusting the party not to support Anwar and PH.
“If we want to show Zahid that he is wrong, it’s entirely possible that there will be MPs who are not aligned with him who may leave the party to trigger by-elections,” Tun Faisal said.
He also believes that these same MPs can win again even if they join other parties to defend their seats in by-elections, because voter sentiment against Zahid is strong at the moment.
For Umno’s internal elections that are ongoing, Tun Faisal said members need to be bold in not choosing candidates who are “pro-Zahid”.
Additionally, party members should also cast “protest votes” if they are in the six states that are due to hold elections this year.
“Umno members need to do something. Otherwise, the party will not change at all.” – The Vibes, February 5, 2023
A podcast with Tun Faisal on the programme The Good, The Bad & The Ugly will be aired on Monday, February 6, on Podio by The Vibes
