Hishammuddin doubts Zahid’s sincerity, says calls to appeal suspension ‘has no meaning’

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s announcement that the party is open to taking back members that have appealed their suspension or expulsion from the party is ‘illogical’

Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he did not know whether Zahid’s announcement of the matter, during his winding-up speech at the party’s general assembly was sincere.

“Until today, I do not know the reason for my suspension and when I was suspended.

“I was never called by the disciplinary board for me to explain and there was no question or answer session either, so I do not know if whatever he is saying is sincere,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Hishammuddin said he did not see the point of appealing his suspension to the party’s disciplinary board, as the party’s supreme council had suspended him without being referred to the board beforehand.

“It seems maybe he is trying to appeal to the grassroots members who might want some of those who were suspended back in the party.

“But to me and my friends who were suspended, it is not a loss as we have already been suspended.

“All this the veiled and offers laced with sarcasm has no meaning to me,” he said.

Hishammuddin was responding to Zahid’s recent announcement at the party’s general assembly that the party was open to welcome members who had been ousted.

Zahid had said that the party’s disciplinary board would evaluate the appeals of these members before it is brought to the party’s supreme council to be finalised.

“The supreme council is very open to the recommendations made by the disciplinary board on members who have appealed the disciplinary action taken against them,” Zahid had said during his winding-up speech at the party’s general assembly on Saturday.

Among those who were expelled from the party were former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former supreme council member Tan Sri Noh Omar.

Those who were suspended for six years include former vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and former information chief Shahril Hamdan.