Expulsion of UMNO veterans justified - Hishammuddin
SEGAMAT, May 5 (Bernama) -- The expulsion of two UMNO veterans who are campaigning for the opposition in the 14th general election is justified, said its vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
Earlier today, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor announced the expulsion of the two veterans, former ministers Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Tun Daim Zainuddin, following their backing for the opposition and criticising the party, effective yesterday.
Tengku Adnan also said that Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim , another UMNO veteran, was under investigation for the same reason before the next course of action was taken.
"Which party will allow its members to go on the opposition stage to criticise and humiliate their own party, " Hishammuddin told reporters at a get together at Felda Chemplak Barat in Labis near here today.
Commenting further, Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, said if the action was not taken, he himself would have asked for them to be expelled.
"Such action will be taken by any party and don´t be a hypocrite, trying to point fingers at us as their actions and words indicated that they (veterans) are clearly no longer with us, " he said.
He said if the expulsion was not taken, it would affect the morale of the Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties and members who would like to see the BN candidates to win.
In another development, Hishammuddin, who is also the incumbent for the Sembrong parliamentary seat, reminded the BN machinery and constituents in the Labis parliamentary constituency about the party and BN struggles that transcend skin colour and religions.
"The campaigns should be carried out in a constructive way rather than to sow hate, disunity and commotion, " he said.
He also advised BN supporters, in the course of several days until polling day on May 9, not to emulate the opposition party´s styles.
Commenting on the opposition´s political strategy, Hishammuddin said they always created new issues when the old issue were resolved by BN, to confuse the people.
In KOTA BHARU, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said the expulsions were justified.
"This is normal in any party no matter the status of the individual. Indiscipline cannot be tolerated, said Mustapa, who is also Kelantan UMNO chief.
In SEREMBAN, Negeri Sembilan UMNO chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said all party members were subjected to its rule and regulations.
Those who flouted the rules must face the consequences, he said.
In MELAKA, UMNO Supreme Council member and Melaka UMNO chief Datuk Seri Idris Haron echoed the same.
He said members who betrayed the party cannot go unpunished.
-- BERNAMA
