Don't punish until proven guilty, Hisham says on Rizalman

Umno will not make any compromise with party members involved in criminal activities, Hishammuddin Hussein said today.

The Umno vice-president, however, said the party was steadfast in the belief that anyone accused of wrongdoing should not be punished unless there is ample evidence against them.

"Firstly, we have to see the statement made by the division chief, and I was made to understand that he had already called for a press conference earlier this morning, and we will see his side of the argument against the accusation.

"I have always maintained that Umno will not practise favouritism (in acting against offenders),” Hishammuddin told a press conference after a function in Kuala Lumpur today.

“I just happen to know the said leader, and I hope no one will carry on to make allegations until investigations into the matter are completed and a judgment is made.

“I do not want him to be tried by media and judged by external perception without being given a chance to defend himself," he added.

Hishammuddin was responding to a question on whether BN would give the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary seat to MCA, after the arrest of the Umno division chief Rizalman Mokhtar (photo) during a raid at an entertainment centre early on Monday, after testing positive for methamphetamine.

Rizalman called for a press conference earlier today to claim that he was "set up," and that his arrest was an attempt tarnish his name.

Despite the police saying that he tested positive for drugs, Rizalman said he only indulged in Nescafe and karaoke, and denied there were any drugs involved.

Asked about Rizalman's "sabotage" claim, Hishammuddin said it is best left to the authorities to investigate.

Earlier today, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi merely referred to the cops when asked about Rizalman's set up claim.

"The Narcotics Criminal Investigation Department will investigate," he told journalists in Kuala Lumpur today.

Yesterday, Zahid, who is also Umno de facto deputy president, had said that Rizalman's arrest would affect BN's preparation in the constituency. - Mkini