Bukit Bendera Umno committee members resign

The Penang Umno Liaison Committee today received the resignation letters of 36 committee members of the Bukit Bendera division from their posts to make way for new election of office-bearers.

Its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the matter would be discussed by the state liaison committee before being brought to the Umno management committee and supreme council for a decision soon.

On Monday, all the Bukit Bendera Umno division committee members relinquished their posts to allow for a special divisional meeting be convened to re-elect Datuk Ahmad Ismail as division head.

Ahmad was given a three-year suspension from the party from September 2008 following public outcry over his controversial statement while campaigning in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat by-election.

However, last December the Umno supreme council decided to withdraw the suspension.

Asked whether the divisional committee’s resignation was due to pressure from outside, Zahid said there was no pressure including from the higher-ups.

Article 15.8 of the Umno constitution states that if a divisional committee resigns en bloc, the party’s supreme council will order for a special divisional meeting be held to elect a new committee and determine the term of office.

Zahid also denied a news report over the 98.8FM radio channel yesterday which said that Ahmad had asked Penang Gerakan to apologise to the Bukit Bendera Umno division and its leaders, and that Zahid had agreed on this.

“No statement had ever been issued on Ahmad Ismail asking Penang Gerakan or the national Gerakan to apologise to him or Bukit Bendera Umno. It’s just an assumption,” he said at the parliament lobby.

Zahid also asked the media, especially the Chinese media, not to manipulate the matter to avoid creating uneasiness, as it (resignation) was what the delegates wanted, aimed at strengthening the party. — Bernama