Umno disciplinary board sees no problem in Saifuddin’s presence at opposition event

Umno's Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (left) with PAS's Datuk Mahfuz Omar at the Pakatan Harapan roundtable discussion on September 22. An Umno leader has asked the former deputy minister to explain his attendance at the opposition event. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 30, 2015.

Umno's disciplinary board has rubbished Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor's claims that Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah committed a serious offence by appearing at the launch of the new opposition pact, Pakatan Harapan, last week.

While the Umno secretary-general said Saifuddin's action had tarnished the party's image, its disciplinary board chairman, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas said Saifuddin did nothing wrong by merely attending the programme, adding that it may even be of benefit to Umno.

‎"If it's just a matter of him attending an event by the opposition, I don't think that's a problem. It's normal, unless he actively condemned Umno, then that's another matter.

"If he just attended it, then that's alright. We want to know as well what the opposition‎ is saying and doing," Megat Najmuddin told The Malaysian Insider.

He was asked whether the former deputy higher education minister could be sacked from Umno for taking part in last Tuesday's roundtable discussion with PKR, DAP, the recently launched Parti Amanah Negara and several other non-governmental organisations.

Saifuddin had said that he participated in the talks in his capacity as the chairman of Akademi Belia (Youth Academy).

His attendance prompted Tengku Adnan to issue a show-cause letter on September 22, demanding that he explain his actions within 14 days.

Tengku Adnan had said he would bring the matter to the disciplinary board if Saifuddin failed to respond.

On Monday, Saifuddin told reporters that he had yet to receive the letter.

Meanwhile, party observers told The Malaysian Insider that Umno would be going against the true democratic spirit if it punishes members with opposing views, referring to Tengku Adnan's rant against Saifuddin.

Analyst Datuk Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff said it was a wrong move as Umno appeared to be curtailing the freedom of its members from taking part in activities outside the party.

Najmuddin said he was unaware if Umno's disciplinary board had received a notice on Saifuddin's case, adding that the board could only take action once they received it.

He said the board would take action if an Umno member was found to have breached party rules.

- TMI