KUALA LUMPUR:
Bukit Bendera Umno Head Datuk Ahmad Ismail yesterday accepted the decision by Umno’s Supreme Council (MT) to suspend his Party membership for three years.. “I view it as my fate and accept it with an open heart,” he told a press conference after Prime Minister and Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced the suspension on him after the MT meeting held at Umno Headquarters here. He said the suspension on him was a risk a member had to take in fighting for a cause he believed in. “As I said before, I was prepared to face the consequences. In politics there are two types, leaders or fighters. In the case of fighters, they have to make many sacrifices and be prepared to take risks. If we are not daring enough, “we should not build our houses close to the sea waves,’ he said. Although the MT had punished him, Ahmad said he would remain loyal to Umno and continue to help strengthen it especially the Bukit Bendera division, apart from going down to the ground to explain his ad ions. “Umno is my party, my loyalty will be always with it. I do not want people to take advantage of what has happened,” he said. He also urged his supporters to remain calm and not become emotional by what had happened. However when asked if he would make an apology, , he said: “I am not in the wrong, why should I apologise? I am firm about this and it is what has got me suspended.” Ahmad became embroiled in a controversy when during a campaign rally on Aug 23 in the run up to the Permatang Pauh by-election, he allegedly made remarks that the Chinese in the country were “immigrants” and as such not entitled to be treated as equal citizens. In PENANG, Penang Umno accepts the decision and we feel it is in the best interest of all,” Penang Umno Deputy Liaison Chief Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah said when contacted by Bernama. He added that Penang Umno would decide on the next course of action after studying in detail the punishment handed out to Ahmad. Meanwhile, Umno Youth Chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, when approached by reporters at Umno’s Headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, said the three- year suspension on Ahmad was a landmark decision. “With this decision and the one taken by the Cabinet at its meeting yesterday to ensure racial harmony is preserved, I hope all in the Barisan Nasional do not act in a manner that will be detrimental to the coalition,” he said. He said the component parties in the BN should emulate Umno and take stern action against any of their members who try to jeopardize national unity. Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Koh Tsu in a statement faxed to Bernama in Kuala Lumpur, said the decision to suspend Ahmad Ismail was a step in the right direction. He said the party hoped this would serve as deterrent against similar irresponsible and insensitive actions. MCA President Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting said the Party welcomed the action taken against AHamd by Umno’s MT. This showed that Umno had demonstrated Barisan Nasional’s (BN) spirit and stood by the collective decision made by the BN Supreme Council on Tuesday, he said in a statement. He said this incident should serve as a lesson to all politicians and no one should repeat it in the future:- Bernama
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