Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, April 17 — Umno will take stern action against its members found to be disloyal to the party by contesting as an independent or on another political party’s ticket, said its vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said their action not only violated the party’s constitution but also affected the reputation of the party and the Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Any party member or leader found to have done so (contesting against the party) would be severely penalised. Umno will not compromise with them,” he said at a media conference after presenting the ‘Pingat Jasa Malaysia’ to 55 former Malaysian Armed Forces personnel, at the Officers Club of the Royal Malay Regiment, here today.
Also present at the ceremony was Army Chief Gen Tan Sri Muhamad Ismail Jamaluddin.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Defence Minister, said this when asked to comment on the decision of the Shah Alam Umno Youth committee member, Johan Mohd Diah, to contest as an Independent candidate in the by-election for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat on April 25.
The BN has named MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan, 44, as its candidate while PKR has fielded former minister in the prime minister’s department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, 59.
Besides the BN and PKR, two independent candidates — former Hulu Selangor MIC deputy chairman V. S. Chandran, 56, and businessman Johan, 31, had also filed their nomination papers.
Ahmad Zahid said such an act could not be forgiven as it was tantamount to betraying the party.
He said such disloyalty could not be taken lightly as it went against Umno’s struggles.
“We have been informed of the matter and an investigation was being carried out to determine the accuracy of the information before taking the matter to the Umno Supreme Council for further action,” he added. — Bernama