PM: Isa accepts decision
PUTRAJAYA: Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Samad has accepted the decision of the Umno disciplinary board which found him guilty of money politics, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
The Prime Minister said Isa told him at a meeting yesterday that he respected the board’s decision.
The board had suspended Isa from the party for six years for his involvement in money politics during last year’s party elections. Isa, who received the highest number of votes among the three vice-presidents, was found guilty of breaching Umno’s election ethics.
Abdullah, who is also Umno president, said Isa was fully aware that anyone found guilty of money politics must relinquish all party posts.
However, he said the Federal Territories Minister did not raise the issue of resigning from his government post.
Asked if he had given Isa any advice, Abdullah said: “I only told him that if he plans to appeal against his conviction, to do it fast and without delay.”
He said Isa was the only top Umno leader investigated by the board for money politics so far.
“I don’t think that there will be others (supreme council members) apart from him,” he told reporters after his half-day official visit to the Health Ministry yesterday.
Abdullah said he was still waiting for a copy of the full report on Isa’s case from the disciplinary board.
In Seremban, Isa’s political secretary Mohd Salim Sharif said they were busy preparing Isa’s appeal.
A stream of visitors was seen going into Isa's home in Nilai. Outside, scores of reporters and photographers waited to catch a glimpse of the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar, who was among eight Umno members found guilty by the party for involvement in money politics.
In Kuala Lumpur, suspended Umno Kota Baru chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim claimed to have apologised twice to the disciplinary board.
On April 7, Zaid was found guilty of money politics but was let off with a warning. While debating in Parliament on April 13 he said the board was unfair in its deliberations and had “acted outside the law”.
Last week, the board found him guilty of contempt and handed down a three-year suspension after he failed to retract his statement and make a public apology.
“I have apologised twice and I don’t know what else they want,” said Zaid, who added that he was still awaiting the outcome of his appeal on the money politics issue.
“I want my appeal to be decided. If they clear me of money politics, I will apologise to them 10 times, if that is what they want.”
In Kuching, Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said money politics, if not curbed, could grow like a cancer.
He said that was why the party had taken steps to stamp it out, including imposing tough disciplinary measures.
He also hoped the case against Isa would serve as a lesson to other party members.
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