Not true, Hishammuddin says about Umno disciplinary probe

Former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein had met Dr Mahathir Mohamad in June.

PETALING JAYA: Umno’s Hishammuddin Hussein has refuted a report that he is being investigated by the party’s disciplinary board. “Not true. Not sure what they are talking about,” he said in a text message to FMT when asked about a Malaysiakini report on the purported investigation.

Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan told FMT he was not aware of any investigations into Hishammuddin, and that Umno’s management had not received any complaints.

“The disciplinary board is an independent body. If there are investigations and there is a prima facie case the Supreme Council will be notified. So far, there’s nothing,” Mohamad said.

The Malaysiakini report had quoted Umno disciplinary board chairman Mohamed Apandi Ali as saying that investigations were continuing, and said he declined to reveal why Hishammuddin was being investigated.

However, Apandi told FMT that no action had been taken against Hishammuddin. When asked if Hishammuddin was aware that he was being investigated, Apandi replied: “That you have to ask him.”

Apandi also denied that the disciplinary committee had been stopped by the party’s leadership from acting against Hishammuddin.

FMT is awaiting Apandi’s response to further queries.

The Malaysiakini report said it was understood that Hishammuddin, a former Umno vice-president, was being investigated for disciplinary breaches, including a meeting with Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad in July.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said at the time that only the president was mandated to represent Umno in talks with other political parties.- FMT