Umno purge: Hisham should file appeal with disciplinary board, says Nur Jazlan

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should appeal his six-year suspension from Umno to the party's disciplinary board, says Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed (pic).

“I’m urging Hishammuddin to file an appeal to the disciplinary board so that the arguments from all sides will be considered,” said the Johor Umno deputy chief on Monday (Jan 30).

Nur Jazlan was responding to Sembrong Umno division deputy chief Abd Ghani Abd Rashid, who said that the division was disappointed and shocked by the six-year suspension of Hishammuddin.

Nur Jazlan also said that if an appeal was filed by Hishammuddin, then Umno should make the matter public.

“And when the time comes, reveal the decision (of the appeal) to Umno members,” added Nur Jazlan.

According to Nur Jazlan, an appeal to the disciplinary board will ensure that Hishammuddin receives fair treatment from the party.

Abd Ghani, in a press conference in Johor on Sunday (Jan 29), said it was reckless of the Umno supreme council to suspend Hishammuddin for six years.

“We demand an explanation from the supreme council on its decision as it was too heavy without the due process, show cause letter and disciplinary hearing,” said Abd Ghani.

Hishammuddin had said on Saturday (Jan 28) that he would stand up against the decision to suspend his Umno membership for six years.

“This is not the end, but merely a beginning,” said Hishammuddin.

Hishammuddin was allegedly one of the 10 Barisan Nasional MPs who signed support letters for Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to be the 10th prime minister after the 15th General Election.

The 10, however, retracted their support after Barisan chairman and Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Barisan would support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the 10th prime minister.

On Friday (Jan 27), the Umno supreme council sacked former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former supreme council member Tan Sri Noh Omar.

Among the members suspended for six years were former party information chief Shahril Hamdan, Hisham, former youth exco member Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya, former Johor state exco member Datuk Maulizan Bujang and former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Shariff.

Action was taken against these Umno leaders because they were deemed to have criticised the party president and worked with opposition parties in the last general election.