KUALA LUMPUR: Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim was sacked from Umno last night.
Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the supreme council decided to expel the lawyer-politician for participating in various opposition events and the statements he made since his resignation from the cabinet.
“As a Barisan Nasional politician, his actions were uncalled for. His presence at the Parti Keadilan Rakyat con-gress last week violated party guidelines,” he said after chairing a three-hour su-preme council meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here last night.
Asked whether Zaid, the former Kota Baru Umno division chief, could appeal the decision, Abdullah said: “We have sacked him, so there is no appeal.”
Asked to comment on Zaid’s actions, which were perceived as goading Umno into sacking him, Abdullah said it was up to Zaid to act on his own accord.
Abdullah said the decision showed that Umno did not practise double standards and was indifferent to party seniority.
He also said Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno division chief Capt (R) Datuk Zahar Hashim had been suspended for three years.
The suspension stemmed from his criticisms of Umno, particularly of deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the government’s proposed Eurocopter purchase.
On the Kuala Terengganu by-election, the supreme council decided that all preparations should be speeded up and state Umno liaison committees drafted in to help the division.
On the candidate, Abdullah said it was yet to be decided and the party management committee, chaired by Najib, would submit a list of shortlisted candidates. Abdullah said there would be no Umno supreme council meeting to decide on the candidate.
The prime minister said the next supreme council meeting would specifically discuss action to be taken against Umno members who aired sensitive views which caused unease among other races.
“When we express our views in public, others are bound to respond and this could lead to undesirable situations.
“We want to avoid that, especially if they do not benefit the people. That is why we will discuss at length what channels we can utilise to address such views.”
Abdullah said Umno, as the largest member of the ruling coalition, had been accommodating of the views of other BN component parties.
Asked on Umno’s stand regarding the threats from BN component leaders to pull out from the coalition, he said it would be discussed at the next BN supreme council meeting.
“We will inform them of Umno’s stand on this. The meeting will be the best avenue to address this issue.”
Abdullah also quashed rumours of a possible defection by Seberang Jaya assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah to PKR.
He said Arif met him on Monday and reaffirmed his allegiance to Umno and BN.
Arif had last week expressed his discontent with Permatang Pauh Umno division chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid, saying he was contemplating leaving the party and joining PKR.
Abdullah said Najib, who is finance minister, briefed the meeting on the economic situation in the United States and its impact on the nation’s economy.
He said the government would work on solutions to cushion the impact of global crude oil prices, which were projected to continue its downward spiral and inevitably cut into the nation’s revenues.
Meanwhile, Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said the decision to sack Zaid was unanimous.
“Our action is justified because Zaid has crossed the line. Umno needs to take action against irresponsible members.”
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