Ahmad Ismail showered with heroic titles at AGM

After more than an hour's delay, the embattled Bukit Bendera Umno division annual general meeting (AGM) finally opened with a grand entrance by its controversial former chief Ahmad Ismail, who received a hero's welcome.

Ahmad (left with sash) - who has vowed not to recontest his former post despite previous talk of the division exco having resigned en-bloc to set the stage for his return to leadership - entered the hall trailed by youths carrying bunga manggar and pounding the kompang.

A silat group later performed in his honour, after which division delegates conferred two titles upon Ahmad: 'bintang perkasa melayu jati' and 'wira bangsa'.

The 100-odd delegates and observers then shouted “Hidup Melayu” (long live the Malays) and “Hidup Umno” (long live Umno) three times.

During his opening speech, state Umno information chief Musa Syed Fadhil said he was impressed with the delegates' attendance today, which he said indicated that Penang Malays were not weak and will rise again.

'Don't play with fire'

“Don't try to test the patience of the Malays of Penang, because it has a limit,” he said adding, “Do not play with fire.”

Musa also apologised on behalf of Umno vice president Ahmad Zahidi who was unable to attend the meeting.

Fiery rhetoric aside, the AGM at the Eastin Hotel today promises to be a dull affair, as all the 25 division leaders and committee members have been nominated without contest.

However, the delegates seem excited by their former chief's presence, applauding each time Ahmad's name was mentioned.

The division has been plagued by controversy ever since Ahmad was suspended for three years in 2008 for making derogatory remarks against the Chinese community.

He was prematurely reinstated last year and looked set to regain his position thanks to the efforts of all 36 members of the division exco, until his shock announcement last week that he would withdrawfrom the divisional election.

courtesy of Malaysiakini