Negotiate, instead of purging members who criticise Umno - Analysts 

SHAH ALAM - Umno's act of dismissing leaders who like to criticise and have different ideologies will leave bad implications to the party itself.

Political analyst Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub said the fired individuals had been in Umno for a long time, and the differences should have been dealt with through negotiations.

He said ideally, the top leadership of the party should hold a meeting to resolve the crisis and find a way to rebuild the largest Malay political party in question.

"The expulsion of more Umno leaders after this is like burning down one's own house.

"The regressive action seems to be destroying the largest Malay political party.

"Differences in views and ideologies within the party are typical but do not take such differences of views as enemies of the party.

"Umno's crisis has certainly opened up space for more internal divisions, besides weakening the party to rise again," he told Sinar Harian on Friday.

On Thursday, three Umno leaders were expelled from membership for mocking the party and campaigning for other parties during the 15th General Election (GE15).

Umno Secretary General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan confirmed that former Member of Parliament for Ketereh, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, two Umno Women's Leaders of Maran and Arau Division had been stripped of their membership.

Umno's Supreme Working Council (MKT) revoked the membership of Annuar, Datin Seri Fatimah Kassim (former Umno Women's Leader of Maran) and Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim's wife, Datin Seri Shamsiah Yassin (former Umno Arau Women's Leader) in accordance with Clause 10.6 of the Umno Constitution after they violated Clause 20.9 of the Umno Constitution and related to members' ethics.

Tawfik explained that it was the first time in history that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) suffered a severe defeat in GE15.

He said that existing leaders need to have the courage to raise their voices and object if they do not agree with a policy approved by leaders at the top level.

Another political analyst, Professor Wong Chin Huat said it was Umno's signal to its members not to help rival parties, namely Pas and Bersatu.

However, he said, expulsion could only be applied to members who were not representatives of the people.

"For those who are elected representatives, Umno will not fire them because it will free them to join PN under the anti-party hopping law," he said.

Therefore, he expected Umno might amend the party's constitution.

"This is to ensure that the act of sabotaging including signing a statutory declaration (SD) that violates party decisions will be defined as an act causing a person to 'cease as member of party' under Article 49A(2)(ii) which can vacate their seat and be brought to the By-Election (PRK)," he explained.

In addition, Senior Lecturer of the Faculty of Administrative Sciences and Policy Studies from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Mujibu Abd Muis believes that the expulsion of Umno leaders is an act of the leadership to purge the party of leaders who support the opponent.

"The purge in the party shows that certain groups are trying to dominate the party. Those who are not in line and are not aligned will be cut off.

"The signal sent by Umno was clear during the nomination of candidates in GE15 for the party's cleansing process.

"Perhaps the reason given for the expulsion of the members is closely related to party discipline, but the process is to strengthen certain camps in the party," said Mujibu.