Umno monitoring 7 leaders for possible action, says Tengku Adnan

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor refuses to confirm if former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is among the 7 Umno leaders being monitored by the party. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Wan Asraf, October 5, 2015.Seven Umno leaders are being monitored, with the possibility of disciplinary action taken against them, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said today.

He did not elaborate who they were or why they were being monitored, but had made this disclosure when answering questions about whether the ruling Malay party would take action against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has repeatedly called for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation.

"We have seven leaders that we monitor. If  there is a necessity to take action (against them), we will send the investigation papers to disciplinary board," Tengku Adnan said in a media conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Another prominent Umno member who has gotten in trouble with the party recently is former deputy minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, who was censured and issued a show-cause letter for attending a meeting of opposition parties and civil society organisations, at which new opposition pact Pakatan Harapan was announced.

On Dr Mahathir's attacks on Najib, Tengku Adnan said the retired statesman was entitled to his views but the media should stop pitting leaders against each other.

"Don't pit new and old leaders, enough is enough," he said.

Tengku Adnan also said former leaders should not comment on the current administration's problems, adding that the statement by former MCA president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik that Najib should step down would not weaken the prime minister but instead strengthen him.

"We do not want outsiders to intervene, enough is enough, we know how to handle problems."

Besides calling for Najib to resign, Dr Mahathir had urged Barisan Nasional lawmakers to back a no-confidence vote if it was tabled in Parliament.

The former prime minister renewed his call for Najib's resignation at a high-tea event last Saturday hosted by Umno's Pusat Bandar Taman Cempaka branch.

Tengku Adnan said the branch would be asked to explain why they had invited Dr Mahathir to speak.

- TMI