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Saturday, December 02, 2006

Umno trio ticked off over fiery speeches

TheStar
By IZATUN SHARI and EDDIE CHUA

KUALA LUMPUR: Three speakers at the recent Umno general assembly whose speeches were deemed to be inflammatory have been given a ticking off by the party's leaders.

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the party’s management committee had called Kedah delegate and Umno Youth information chief Azimi Daim, Malacca delegate Hasnoor Sidang Hussein, and Perlis delegate Hashim Suboh on Wednesday to explain their remarks, which had slighted the non-Malays.

Abdullah said they were given pedas dan keras (caustic and strong) advice to be careful with their words.

They were told not to go overboard until they risk running foul of the law, Abdullah told newsmen after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting at Menara Datuk Onn yesterday.

“The trio have vowed to adhere to the management committee’s directive,” he added.

Abdullah, who is Prime Minister, said the matter was brought up at the Umno supreme council meeting yesterday.

Now that the matter has been addressed, he hoped that it would no longer be an issue.

Asked whether this would discourage delegates from speaking up in future, Abdullah said: “Umno (members) are not that afraid. If they have to debate, then debate. It’s others who fear when they hear Umno speak.”

On the Umno Youth executive committee’s acceptance of Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s explanation and apology over his comments on his policy speech at the general assembly, Abdullah said the movement’s chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had explained to the party supreme council its decision.

Mukhriz, who is an Umno Youth exco member, infuriated the movement with his remark that Abdullah’s speech was similar to what had been said the previous year and offered nothing new.

On the movement’s plan to arrange for Mukhriz to meet him, Abdullah said: “I will leave it to Umno Youth. I have no problem giving my cooperation.”

To a question Asked whether the supreme council would continue with live telecast of the party's general assembly, Abdullah said that would be decided when the next general assembly was due.

Astro’s Channel 94 had provided for the first time live feeds of the speeches and debates at the recent general assembly.

On whether Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s declared intention to contest in the general election would have any impact on Umno, and when the polls would be held, Abdullah said: “He can say anything he likes, but we will decide when (to hold the elections). We will face anybody, just as we had done before.”

The Federal Court quashed the former deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president’s conviction for sodomy but upheld corruption charges against Anwar. As such, Anwar is barred from running for public office until 2008.

posted by Nobody @ 3:04 PM

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