Umno members warned against going it alone in Penanti

(The Star) – Disciplinary action will be taken against state Umno members contesting as independents in the upcoming Penanti by-election.

State Umno secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim said this was because Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has yet to make a decision on whether to participate in the by-election.

He was speaking to reporters yesterday after the Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas opened the 12th State Assembly session.

Azhar was asked whether Umno would support independents if Barisan decided not to contest in the by-election.

In Ipoh, Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn said having a by-election for the Penanti seat was just an excuse for Pakatan Rakyat to cover up their internal problems.

He said since last year’s general election, DAP, PAS and PKR had been engaged in infighting which led to the fall of Perak’s Pakatan government.

Meanwhile, the Kedah Gerakan Youth has proposed amendments to current election laws.

State Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said in a statement that he hoped the proposals would be considered as the events occurring in the country were signs that the laws needed to be reviewed.

Among others, it suggested that the Election Commission amend the Election Act for a monetary penalty of RM50,000 for state assemblymen and RM100,000 for MPs who resigned except in cases of death, illness or other conditions causing them unfit to perform their duties.