PETALING JAYA, June 26 – UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has left it to the UMNO Supreme Council to decide on a motion to revoke the suspension of former Vice-President Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein’s party membership.
Ahmad Zahid said the UMNO Supreme Council may deliberate on the matter even though the individual involved has not submitted any appeal letter or letter of apology.
“Normally, all motions submitted by the divisions will be brought to the Motions Committee for review. In the case of the motion from the Sembrong UMNO Division, there is a statement from the Johor Menteri Besar (Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi) indicating he will bring the matter to the Supreme Council, so we will wait.
“This is because the authority to expel, suspend or reinstate a member — in the absence of the General Assembly — lies with the UMNO Supreme Council as the highest decision-making body,” he said.
He was responding to a question on the motion submitted by the Sembrong UMNO Division calling for Hishammuddin’s suspension to be lifted immediately and unconditionally.
Ahmad Zahid also emphasised that any disciplinary action involving suspension is carried out reasonably and that the UMNO Supreme Council would not take such action without strong grounds.
At its meeting on 27 January 2023, the UMNO Supreme Council suspended Hishammuddin’s membership for six years after finding him in breach of Clause 20.9 of the UMNO Constitution.
