Ali Rustam’s bid for No. 2 post could be derailed by probe

(The Star) – Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam’s bid for the Umno deputy presidency has come under a cloud of uncertainty, following speculation that he is being investigated by the party’s disciplinary board for breaking election rules.

There has been talk for days that Mohd Ali, 59, who is said to be doing well in the three-man contest, was being investigated but the disciplinary board has refused to comment.

The speculation has only raised the political temperature as the party election campaign enters its final lap, with just eight days left before more than 2,000 delegates choose the new party line-up.

Besides the Malacca Chief Minister, party insiders said several other leading candidates for various top posts have also been hauled up by the board.

Mohd Ali, who is the incumbent vice-president, avoided calls from the media the whole day but when reporters finally caught up with him at the Blue Wave Hotel in Shah Alam yesterday, he did not deny the speculations outright.

Instead, he was evasive and kept replying that the questions raised should be referred to the board.

Q: Datuk, among the Supreme Council members who were involved in money politics, and who have been called up by the disciplinary committee, is it true you are one of them?

A: You have to ask the disciplinary committee.

Q: Did you receive any letter, or anything?

A: You have to ask the disciplinary committee.

Q: Is your candidacy in trouble?

A: You kena tanya lembaga disiplin (you have to ask the disciplinary committee). They will answer you. They will give you the right answer.

Q: Are you worried?

A: What’s there to worry?

Q: Tomorrow, you’re meeting all the Malacca Umno division chiefs. What is it about?

A: That is preparation for the Umno General Assembly.

Q: Is it for you to announce that you’re pulling out or anything?

A: Takde kaitan dengan apa-apa (it’s not related to anything).

Q: Datuk, according to Utusan Malaysia reports today…

A: I didn’t read the Utusan today… very busy … we were making our rounds, today in Johor.. I didn’t read the papers.

Q: If there is any member who has been called by the disciplinary committee, what should the committee do?

A: Ask the lembaga disiplin (disciplinary committee) tomorrow. I have no authority to comment.

Q: Because after this report is out … many people blame you Datuk Seri … so?

A: Sabarlah … tunggu (be patient and wait). Tunggulah (wait). The disciplinary committee has its duties. Let them release their statement. We cannot interfere in the matter by the disciplinary committee.

Q: Datuk, are you still going to contest for deputy presidency?

A: Saya ni datang untuk memperkenalkan diri (I am here to introduce myself) … Okay?

The disciplinary board is scheduled to hold a press conference at 4pm today while the Umno management committee headed by deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is also expected to meet on the matter.

Mohd Ali obtained 46 nominations for the party deputy president’s post. The two other candidates in the contest are Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (91 nominations) and Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib (46).

Mohd Ali did not seem to have let the speculation affect his campaign and he was present at the meet-thedelegates session in Johor Baru on Sunday evening. He was his usual pleasant self, smiling, chatting and shaking hands with everybody.

Even last night at the hotel where Selangor Umno had organised a meet-the-candidate session, Mohd Ali mingled with members and seemed unperturbed, despite the heavy press presence.

A senior aide of Mohd Ali dismissed the speculation as rumours and said it was a psychological war to checkmate his boss because Umno polls suggested that he was leading.

Among those also hauled up by the board was Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo who, according to aides, appeared before the board on Friday.

Asked about the matter, Dr Khir said he left it in the hands of the board and “had the full confidence the board will make a wise decision.”