Not toeing the line, Ismail Sabri says Umno purge must be called out

SHAH ALAM - Umno Vice-President Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is not afraid of calling a spade a spade - even if doing so might lend him in hot water.

He told Sinar Daily this when asked if he shared the same fates of his peers who were sacked or suspended for not “toeing the line” when it came to party issues.

The Bera MP expressed hope that the Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would stand by his word of celebrating the difference beliefs within the Umno members and leaders.

“Sacking and suspending the members will bring bad effects to the party.

"I never say 'cannot sack'. The party have the rights to take the disciplinary action on the members who violates the law but the action must be taken with due process.

"I also want Umno to follow the law so that people would respect the party," he said in a Politically Frank episode.

Ismail Sabri also stressed that his only intention was to restore the party's image, not tarnishing it.

"I hope the president (Zahid) will accept my comments in a positive way," he said.

On Jan 27, Umno Supreme Council sacked two notable Umno leaders former Umno Selangor Chief Tan Sri Noh Omar and its former Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin for disciplinary issues including elements of sabotage.

Another 42 Umno members from Pasir Gudang (5), Putrajaya (9), Tanjung Karang (2) and Pahang (26) were also sacked.

Meanwhile, the council also suspended Sembrong Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Tebrau Umno division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang, deputy Youth Chief Shahril Hamdan and Jempol Umno division chief Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif.

Following the council’s purge, Ismail Sabri expressed his disapproval over the decision to axe and suspend the party members in an Instagram post.

He had voiced out how he disagreed with the move as it was not made in accordance to the party’s rules and due process.