Reps who stayed away from Setiu Umno meeting to be hauled up

(The Star) – The four Terengganu state assemblymen who were absent from Friday’s Setiu Umno division meeting may face disciplinary action.

An Umno official said their absence had been brought to the state Umno management committee’s attention. It will handle the matter from here on.

The committee is headed by Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, who is also the deputy to state Umno liaison chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

State executive councillors Asha’ari Idris (Langkap) and Khazan Che Mat (Batu Rakit) were among the missing four at the meeting opened by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

The other two were assemblymen Ramlan Ali (Jabi) and Abd Halim Jusoh (Permaisuri).

They are all members of the Setiu Umno division committee.

Muhyiddin, annoyed by their absence, had said they should have put aside whatever dissatisfaction they felt and attended the meeting.

This, added the Umno deputy president, would not have taken place if unity was the party’s priority.

Hishammuddin said the Umno stalwarts’ absence had tarnished the party, especially the Setiu division.

“We will make them realise that their positions came from the support of the people with the endorsement of the party,” the Umno vice-president told newsmen after opening the Seputeh Umno division meeting here. “We should respect the party. Who are we if not because of the party?

“Whatever their reasons were, it (their absence) has jeopardised the party.

“We should respect the person who officiates at the event. What more when it involved the Deputy Prime Minister himself,” said Hishammuddin, who is also Home Minister. However, he is convinced that the assemblymen’s actions did not reflect the true picture of the state Umno.

“It has been a perpetual problem from the time I led Terengganu (Umno).

“It has many problems in many divisions but it does not reflect the whole (state) Umno.

“But I am truly concerned about them (the four) doing that (being absent) with a deputy president being present,” he said.

“That is not our way.”