(Updated 7:53pm, 23 March 2009)
KUALA LUMPUR, 23 March 2009: Federal Territory Umno Youth head Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria has been barred from contesting to retain his post in the party’s supreme council on Thursday, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.
Norza (Source: pemudaumno.
org.my) The Umno Management Committee’s decision in the matter followed precedents in Negeri Sembilan and Perlis, he told reporters at Parliament House but declined to elaborate on those cases or Mohamad Norza’s case.
Mohamad Norza, who is facing two corruption charges in the Temerloh Magistrate’s Court, cannot contest, elect, be elected or be appointed in the party elections.
On the first charge, he is alleged to have given one Khadri Musa a sum of RM1,500 through Halimi Kamaruzzaman to be distributed to party delegates as an inducement to vote for him (Mohamad Norza) in 26 March’s elections.
On the second charge, he is alleged to have given RM1,900 to one Mohammad Anuar Yunus, also through Halimi, for the same intention.
He is said to have committed the offences at No 38, Pinggiran Tasik, Taman Bandar Temerloh on 20 Jan.
He was charged under Section 16(b)(A) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 which carries a jail term of up to 20 years, a fine of not less than five times the amount of bribes involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
Mohamad Norza, when contacted, said he was informed of the Umno Management Committee’s decision via a letter signed by Tengku Adnan which he received at noon today.
Expressing disappointment and sadness over the decision, he said: “As a professional and a party loyalist, the decision will not dampen my spirit to continue to struggle to enhance Umno’s competitiveness.”
He said he accepted the decision as a challenge to strengthen his commitment towards Umno’s struggle and acknowledged that efforts to institute change in Umno were important to ensure continuity in the party.
“I am convinced that under Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership, efforts to rejuvenate the party, bring the party closer to the people and reformation as well as transformation can be carried out successfully to ensure continued relevance of the Umno struggle,” he said.
Mohamad Norza expressed his gratitude to all those who had supported him all along and pledged to give excellent service to the party.
Meanwhile, the Umno Disciplinary Board today reminded party election contestants to ensure that their campaign over the next few days is free of money politics.
Board member Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said severe action would be taken against them if they were found guilty, even if they were to win any post in the elections scheduled for 25 and 26 March.
“The three or four days before the elections are a critical period. If any money politics is involved, then we can take action.
“Be careful in the next few days. Behave properly and behave in a good manner as well. We got our people on the ground,” he told reporters when approached after a meeting of the board at Menara Datuk Onn here. — Bernama
