Move to act against Umno 7 unwise: Analysts

KUALA LUMPUR: Political analysts, academics and journalists describe the proposed disciplinary actions against seven past and current senior leaders of Umno for speaking up against party president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak as very unwise and wholly detrimental.

They believed Umno secretary- general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was merely “sabre rattling” when he said that the seven could be suspended for publicly disparaging Umno.

“Unfortunately, Malaysian political parties, both government and opposition, are very centralised organisations and any deviation from the party line is always punished,” said Dr Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Datuk Dr Denison Jayasooria of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) said: Politicians must have the right to share their views and to be held accountable for what they say.

Meanwhile, Tengku Adnan said the move to investigate the seven Umno members is a way to rehabilitate ( membetulkan) the party. He reiterated that investigations was in its final stage by the committee under his office.

“Let us wait for the outcome of the findings,” said Tengku Adnan.