Two delegates boycott Umno polls
Two Umno delegates have decided to boycott the voting today to protest the decision of the party to allow outgoing vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam and newly-elected Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to vote.
Two Umno delegates have decided to boycott the voting today to protest the decision of the party to allow outgoing vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam and newly-elected Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin to vote.
The duo - Kadar Shah Sulaiman Shah (right) and his brother Hassan, both from Muar - said they were disappointed as their objections against Mohd Ali and Khairy taking part in the voting process had been rejected by party permanent chairperson Onn Ismail.
The brothers earlier today submitted their objection to Onn, stating that Mohd Ali and Khairy should not be allowed to vote as they have been found guilty by the party disciplinary committee for being involved in money politics.
The disciplinary committee had barred Mohd Ali from contesting from the deputy president's post while Khairy was let off with a warning. They were found guilty for inducing voters using their agents.
Kadar Shah said that he hoped other delegates would also follow his lead in boycotting the voting which in underway at present.
On the same ground, Kadar Shah also questioned the legality of Khairy's victory yesterday.
Talking to Malaysiakini later, they said that the decision of the party to allow Mohd Ali and Khairy to vote could result in a legal action taken to declare the assembly illegal.
"If somebody takes action in declaring this assembly as null and void or seeking a court injunction as a result of this, please do not fault us.
"The matter should have been handled well by the party and they should have addressed the issue," Kadar Shah said.
"We love the party, however the party leaders should act accordingly in handling the situation by barring them to vote and contest," he said.
He claimed that many members and delegates may not know the party constitution, but "we are alerting this to the media so they would be well informed so the matter would not be repeated in the future".
Party of double standards
Kadar Shah's brother Hassan added that party members should be taught to respect the party constitution at all times, especially on the disciplinary action sections.
"This is why my brother and I are raising this issue at the start of the general assembly as it is the normal and legal procedure. However, they rejected the motion like that without it being discussed or open to members.
"They only gave a letter of reply to Kadar Shah," he said.
Hassan said that it looked as though the party was ignoring the constitution and its members by allowing Mohd Ali (photo) and Khairy to cast their votes.
He also questioned on the apparent double standards practised in the party when several other members found guilty of money politics have been banned from the party for three years and not allowed to vote but in the case of Mohd Ali and Khairy, they are allowed to do so.
"This is not healthy in a political party like Umno," he said.
Kadar Shah had previously been in the limelight for continuously raising the issue of money politics in the party.
Last Tuesday he also questioned the timing of the general assembly, especially when the issue of money politics was still uncurbed.
He had also approached the Registrar of Societies to step in and arrest the problem of corruption in Umno.
Kadar Shah is the son of long time party permanent chairman, the late Sulaiman Ninam Shah.
