Busy day: Ahmad Zahid (second from left) chairing a meeting with Rural and Regional Development Ministry Deputy Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang (left) and executive councillors in Putrajaya. — Bernama
PUTRAJAYA: The fate of Khairy Jamaluddin and several other general election “saboteurs” Umno members will be made known tonight after the supreme council meeting, says its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said as promised during the party’s recent annual general meeting, they are heading for a “mass cleansing” process.
“You have to wait for the meeting because it’s just not about deciding the fate of an individual.
“Umno is going to ‘mass cleanse’ saboteurs and those who have ‘shot themselves in the foot’.
“Whoever feels guilty will know tomorrow (their fate),” said the Umno president after chairing the 55th MEXCLUB coordination meeting on rural development.
When asked who will likely get the boot, the Deputy Prime Minister said such information could not be revealed early, adding that it was “embargoed”.
On Wednesday, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the fate of Khairy’s party membership would be made known later.
Previously, Khairy had stated his aim of cleaning up the party if he managed to win the Sungai Buloh parliamentary seat during the 15th General Election (GE15).
The former Umno Youth chief had also alleged that there was a conspiracy by some delegates to “bulldoze” the no-contest motion for the top two posts in the upcoming party polls in order for it to be approved at the Umno general assembly.
Separately, Ahmad Zahid denied twisting the statement of PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang on the “sedekah” issue after being called out by party Ulama council chief Datuk Ahmad Yahya.
He reiterated what Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki had said, that it did not matter if they (PAS) used the term “sedekah”, it was still defined as corruption under Section 10 of the Election Offences Act 1954.
“The statements made by the MACC chief and several non-governmental organisation leaders should be a guidance on handouts given during elections.
“This is not about twisting words, this is an official statement by the MACC chief,” he added.
Last week, Terengganu Barisan Nasional urged the authorities to immediately investigate the PAS state government over allegations that the latter distributed money to voters during its GE15 campaign.
