An Umno source has confirmed that Khairy Jamaluddin’s aspirations to “clean up” Umno were what caused him to be sacked.
The source said the sacking was not because Khairy objected to the Umno presidency not being opened up for contest, but rather for a speech he gave during the 15th general election campaign.
Specifically, he gave a speech about being a reformist in a party that had “gone astray”.
The source - who is close to Khairy’s rival, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - said the speech was deemed to be an open attack on Umno and contravened party discipline.
“It is not true that it (the sacking) is because he didn’t agree with the motion to bar contests for the Umno presidency,” said the source, adding that others who objected to the motion did not meet the same fate.
The source claimed the Umno disciplinary board deliberated the matter for a month before making recommendations to the supreme council - and had not met after the general assembly.
While campaigning for the Sungai Buloh seat last November, Khairy (above) said Umno had gone astray and needed to be corrected again - while distancing himself from Zahid.
“Umno has gone astray and needs to go back to its roots and needs to be corrected again.
“I want to win GE15 to ensure Ismail Sabri Yaakob remains as prime minister. After that, we will clean up Umno and bring back the confidence of the people.
“I’m a reformist in Umno and I can’t keep my mouth shut. That’s why I was sent to Sungai Buloh. If no one dares to come forward, it will never change,” he had said.
Despite losing in Sungai Buloh, the former Umno Youth chief pledged to make good on his vow to cleanse the party by aiming for the party presidency.
However, the recent Umno general assembly passed a contentious motion to not allow contests for the presidency and deputy presidency.
Khairy also alleged there were “phantom delegates” planted at the assembly to help bulldoze the motion.
Taking to Twitter after his sacking, Khairy said he was “unbowed, unbent, (and) unbroken” despite being axed by his beloved party to which he had been loyal.
Noh Omar’s punishment
While Khairy was punished for allegedly criticising the party, the source said Noh Omar, meanwhile, was handed a six-year suspension for sabotaging the party’s candidate in Tanjong Karang.
However, Noh asked to be sacked instead of suspended last night, and his wish was granted.
The former Selangor Umno chief had been dropped as the Tanjong Karang candidate after six terms and was replaced by Habibah Mohd Yusof.
Umno then lost the Selangor stronghold for the first time ever, with Perikatan Nasional snatching up the seat.
Likewise, former Jempol MP Salim Sharif was suspended for allegedly trying to sabotage his replacement in the seat.
Meanwhile, the source also said Sembrong MP Hishamuddin Hussein was suspended for allegedly trying to get Umno MPs to support Muhyiddin Yassin as prime minister in the aftermath of the election.
Former Tiram assemblyperson Maulizan Bujang was suspended for allegedly aiding Hishamuddin in collecting statutory declarations (SDs), the source said.
As for former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan, the source said he too was suspended for claiming Umno had gone astray.
The sackings and suspensions have been criticised as a move by Zahid to purge the party of his rivals. - Mkini
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