JOHOR BARU: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Maulizan Bujang should be given a chance to defend themselves, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Johor Umno chief added that Johor Umno adhered to the decision made by the party leadership to suspend the two state leaders even though both have contributed much to the party.
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Hishammuddin was the Sembrong division chief while Maulizan was the Tebrau division chief.
“We are sad about what happened as it involves two leaders who have contributed to Johor Umno.
"Johor Umno agrees that Hishammuddin and Maulizan should be given a chance to appeal the suspension imposed on them,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled said this in a press conference after chairing a special Johor Umno meeting at its office here on Saturday (Feb 4).
He added that the disciplinary action and suspension imposed by the party would not affect Johor Umno as several state leaders have previously gone through similar actions.
The Kota Tinggi MP and Higher Education Minister said individuals who were subjected to such disciplinary action should not give up and could submit an appeal in the hope that their suspension period could be shortened.
"This is not the first time that Johor Umno leaders have been suspended or subjected to disciplinary action. We have been through this before but Umno continues to carry out its responsibilities,” said Mohamed Khaled.
He added that some of those who were subjected to similar action and had returned to Umno included Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad and Muszaidi Makmor, who is now the Kota Tinggi division chief.
"We believe that if efforts are made, the suspension can certainly be shortened as happened to Datuk Lokman Nor Adam. We must not despair, because it is not the end of a political career," he said.
Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin along with former Selangor Umno chief Tan Sri Noh Omar were sacked from the party following a supreme council meeting on Jan 27.
Hishammuddin, former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, former Youth exco member Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya, former Johor state exco member and Maulizan and former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Shariff, meanwhile, were suspended for six years.
