Ahmad Zahid to leave decision on Hishammuddin's suspension to Umno's supreme council
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has deferred the decision regarding the Sembrong Umno Division's request to lift the six-year suspension of Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to the party's supreme council.
Astro Awani reported that Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, said the former Umno Vice President had yet to submit any appeal or apology.
"Regarding the Sembrong Umno Division's motion, the statement from Johor Umno Liaison Committee Chairman, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, will bring this matter to the supreme council, so we will wait for the motion to be brought by him and reviewed by the Political Bureau.
"The power to expel, suspend, or accept a member, if there is no General Assembly, lies with the supreme council of Umno.
"Since there is no appeal letter from the applicant, we will look at the decision based on what is submitted by the Johor Mentri Besar," he told reporters after launching the Desa Kirana@KKDW programme at Sunway Putra Hotel on Thursday (June 26).
Ahmad Zahid emphasised that the suspension of membership for several figures within the party was based on solid reasons, and the supreme council's decision at that time was deemed correct.
He added that no disciplinary action is taken by the supreme council without reasonable cause.
"I would like to mention that the suspension carried out was reasonable at the time because the supreme council would not expel or suspend any individual if there were no offences," he said.
He also provided an example of how a leader allegedly poisoned the minds of 22 Umno Division Heads in Sabah to leave the party after the 14th General Election (PRU14), causing Umno to fall in the state.
Ahmad Zahid also referred to an incident involving 10 Umno Members of Parliament who allegedly withdrew support for the government despite having signed a pledge to support the formation of the government.
"Can the person who led 10 out of 30 Members of Parliament, who did not follow the party's decision, not be acted against?
"Can the person who wanted the Umno President, who was the Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman before the formation of the government, to be dismissed, not be acted against," questioned Zahid.
"I am not referring to any names, but those three cases are very reasonable for suspension or action to be taken. I am not referring to anyone, the media can think for themselves who that person is.
"If that person asks what is my crime? That is the answer. The supreme council made the right decision at that time," explained Ahmad Zahid.
On Saturday (June 21), the Sembrong Umno Division suggested that Hishammuddin's membership suspension be revoked, in line with the goal of strengthening the party at all levels ahead of the upcoming General Election.
Hishammuddin was suspended from Umno membership for six years starting January 27, 2023, or two supreme council Umno election terms.
The letter dated Jan 30, 2023, was signed by Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who served as the Umno Secretary-General at the time.
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