Norza receives green light to contest Umno polls

Welcome back: Norza (left) receiving his release letter from Syed Ali.

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has lifted its suspension against former supreme council member Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria from contesting the party polls.

The party’s management commit­tee at its meeting on May 29 decided to lift the ban against the former head of the Federal Territory Umno Youth, imposed by the party in March 2009 due to a corruption charge which he was facing at the time.

“The party took into account the decision by the Temerloh Sessions Court which acquitted him of the charge on June 17, 2010. So, it was felt that it was no longer fair to continue with the ban,” Federal Territory Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee said at a press conference to announce the decision.

Syed Ali said party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had informed the Federal Territory Umno liaison committee of the decision to lift the ban via a letter dated June 12.

Norza would now be able to vote, be elected and be appointed to any position in the party, added Syed Ali.

Norza, who was once widely seen as a rising star in the party, was charged in court along with another man with bribing delegates at the Umno elections in 2009.

Following the charge, Umno barred Norza from taking part in the party elections and revoked all his rights as a member.

Norza, who was also present, said he regarded the decision as a closure to a dark episode in his life.

On having to wait three years after his court acquittal before the party finally lifted its ban against him, he said he bore no ill-will against the party.

“The party waited for some time before lifting my suspension probably because it wanted to concentrate on the general election. I fully understand its decision.”

On whether he plans to contest in the party elections later this year, Norza said he had not made any decision yet.