KUALA LUMPUR, 19 March 2009: The Umno disciplinary board’s decision should be accepted and respected by all, though some may feel the decision can be appealed, said Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.
“If the principles and decisions are not upheld, the credibility and integrity of Umno would be tarnished,” he said.
Rais, who is also the Foreign Minister said when the Umno disciplinary board makes a decision, it was normal for members to react with their own views and opinion.
He said the Umno supreme council should not be deemed an appeals court because the overall functions and powers to investigate had been vested on the disciplinary board under items 10 (1), 10 (2) and 10 (3), and punishment meted out on elements of natural justice and punishment based on facts and testimonies of findings.
“An appeal can be made but it will be up to the supreme council to decide,” he told reporters after presenting cheques to non governmental organisations involved in providing Humanitarian Aid to the people of Palestine, here today.
On 17 March, the Umno disciplinary board announced that 15 of the 29 Umno members investigated, had been found to have breached party ethics pertaining to money politics and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam was guilty under item 10.1 and barred from contesting the post of deputy president in next week’s Umno election.
Ali, who is also an Umno vice president, had said that he had made an appeal on the board’s decision.
“However, the facts of the case will remain with the board because it is a question of social and political justice faced by Umno,” said Rais. — Bernama
See Tshiung Han says
I love how, in our culture, respect means “don’t take action.”