Updated 22 Dec 2008, 5.45pm
KUALA LUMPUR, 22 Dec 2008: The Umno disciplinary board suspended the membership of Pokok Sena Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Lebai Sudin for two years effective 17 Dec, after finding him guilty of sabotaging the party in the 8 March general election.
Disciplinary board chairperson Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail said a member of the division’s Wanita wing, Halimah Hanafi, had her membership suspended for three years or for one election term for lodging a false report on money politics, also effective from 17 Dec. It was the first time that action was taken for such an offence.
Former Hulu Langat Umno division head Datuk Ahamad Kuris Mohd Nor was given a warning after being found guilty of campaigning for a party post in his blog, which violated the Umno Code of Ethics.
Two committee members of the Batu Umno division, Abdul Kadir Abdul Karim and Remlah Abdul Rahman, who were found guilty of becoming agents in holding a dinner (for the purpose of campaigning), were also given a warning by the board.
In the case of Halimah, Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen said she had alleged that money politics had been practised in the divisional election and had lodged a report. However, when called up by the board for investigation, she had amended her complaint.
Asked about allegations of money politics at the level of the deputy presidency and whether there had been a probe, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said: “I cannot say anything lest I be sued.”
He said the disciplinary board received complaints and conducted investigations based on the date the complaints were registered and did not favour anyone.
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen also reminded that Umno members who referred a party decision to court would have their party membership automatically revoked under Article 20.7 of the Umno Constitution.
He said that so far, three cases related to the party’s decision had been taken to court, involving the Ledang, Tanah Merah and Kota Tinggi divisions over claims of dissatisfaction with the party administration and elections.
He said the disciplinary board had decided on the Tanah Merah case while the Kota Tinggi case was under investigation and the Umno management committee had been informed in writing to expel the party members from Ledang who had taken the matter to court.
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said 865 complaints were received up to today, and investigations had been conducted on 224, investigations had yet to be started against 93, additional documents were required for 82, no further action would be taken against 133, the disciplinary board had no jurisdiction on 177, no decision had been taken on 151 and five were pending.
“The [additional] document [for the 82 cases] was the Form A which has to be completed by the complainant,” he said.
He said 50 people who had complaints against them had been called up for investigations and 23 had been found guilty. Twenty-six of them were found not guilty and one person had yet to have his side of the case heard by the tribunal.
He also said that 13 other people had been found not guilty of various complaints based on the Umno members’ code of ethics following investigations and a tribunal hearing. — Bernama
