An irate Zaid Ibrahim is considering quitting politics after the Kota Baru parliamentarian was found guilty of practising money politics by the Umno disciplinary board last week.

"I am thinking about it (quitting politics)," he said when contacted today. Zaid, a first-time MP, was elected in last March's general elections.

He however added that he would have to take into consideration the several key positions he is currently holding in the capacity of a member of Parliament.

"I know I have so many responsibilities that I have to carry out... (But) I am sad that I have been accused so seriously," added the lawyer, who also heads the country's biggest law firm.

However, Zaid refused to comment on whether he was implying of being a political victim when he used the word 'accused'.

Parliamentary caucuses

The MP heads the unprecedented bi-partisan Malaysian parliamentary caucus on Burma and the Asean Inter-parliamentarian caucus on democracy in Burma. Both committees aim to push for reforms in the military-controlled state.

Zaid has also moved a motion in the Dewan Rakyat seeking the Dewan Rakyat's endorsement that Burma be denied from holding the chairmanship of Asean in 2006 until its government releases all political detainees and opens up space for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Asked whether the motion will be debated as scheduled for April 28, he replied that he hoped so.

Zaid has been seen as one of the most outspoken ruling backbenchers in Parliament and has been portrayed as a 'reformist' in the Umno circle.

In the past, he has described the Umno supreme council as an "exclusive club" and called for reform in Umno to separate the contest for party positions and the selection process for the prime minister. He has also urged for the restoration of judiciary power and transparency.

Last year, he was dropped from the Kelantan Umno line-up as deputy chief and replaced by Dr Awang Adek Hussin, the deputy rural and regional development minister who secured a place in the Umno supreme council.

Zaid failed to secure enough nominations to contest the vice-president post in the party's election.

No faith

Although being found guilty of money politics, the Kota Baru MP escaped suspension and was let off with a warning.

He was said to have contravened Section 2.2 of Umno's code of ethics during the party elections by using an agent to campaign.

Over the weekend, he told Malay daily Utusan Malaysia that he would not appeal against the decision because he has no confidence in the disciplinary board.

He said it was meaningless for him to appeal as the board did not have solid evidence to find him guilty in the first place and he claimed "slander is getting rampant in Umno" .

He also questioned the evidence possessed by the disciplinary board, saying "it was none other than accusations made through a sworn statement which only cost RM5".

"The disciplinary board should investigate thoroughly and follow procedure because this involved (a person's) reputation. I am sympathetic to Umno (current situation)," he was quoted as saying.