PONTIAN: Umno has yet to decide on the fate of its former advisory council chairman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who had a meeting with several Kelantan Opposition leaders without the party’s prior knowledge, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
The Umno secretary-general said any decision on disciplinary action against a party member should only come from the Umno supreme council.
“Tengku Razaleigh is still an Umno member although he has resigned as Umno advisory council chairman and also opted to sit as an independent in the Dewan Rakyat.
“We respect him as he is Tengku Razaleigh. At the moment, the Umno supreme council has not decided on what to do with him.
“For me, whatever opinion or decision involving a party member, especially someone who has been a party leader, should only come from the supreme council,” Ahmad said during his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Rumah Citra in Benut yesterday.
The Pontian MP was responding to questions on whether disciplinary action would be taken against the veteran leader for not abiding by the party’s decision to back the current government and for meeting with Kelantan Parti Amanah Negara leaders.
Last July, Tengku Razaleigh sent a letter to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun requesting to change his seat in Parliament to the independent bloc.
Recently, the Gua Musang MP and former finance minister was reported to be heading a new coalition called Angkatan Amanah Merdeka Rakyat Kelantan that aimed to topple the PAS-led state government in the upcoming general election.
On a separate matter, Ahmad said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin would table a motion to amend the party’s constitution concerning the time frame for the party election during an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on May 14.
“It will be a three-in-one event where we will have the EGM to amend the party’s constitution, celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Umno’s anniversary.
“It was decided at the last Umno general assembly that an amendment would be made to the party’s constitution for the party to have its election within six months after a general election,” he said.
On the relationship between Umno and PAS, Ahmad said Muafakat Nasional was not dead but no longer “subur” (working).
“During the Melaka and Johor elections, they chose to be with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia and contested under Perikatan Nasional despite us (Barisan Nasional) offering them to work together.
“Umno has decided at its general assembly that it will work solo with Barisan for the next general election.
“At the moment, the Umno supreme council has yet to discuss the possibility of working with PAS again,” he said when asked if there were efforts to patch up the relationship.