50 Putera members hold protest

NST (30/1/09): At least 50 members of Umno Youth and Umno Putera from the Federal Territory division demonstrated at Menara Dato Onn yesterday against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's probe into vote-buying in the party.

The protesters gathered about 8pm yesterday prior to the Umno supreme council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The protesters also carried placards decrying the Umno disciplinary board as "senile".

A few policemen stood by the entrance to monitor the situation.

50 stage protest outside Umno HQ

The Star (30/1/09): About 50 people gathered outside the Umno headquarters where the party’s supreme council was meeting to stage a protest against the Umno disciplinary council and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Com­mission’s (MACC) arrest of party members.

The group, said to be Umno Youth members, arrived at 8pm holding placards and banners at the main entrance of Menara Dato’ Onn and shouted their demands as party leaders arrived.

The placards and banners read: “Lembaga disiplin sudah nyanyuk,” “Jangan ambil hak ahli Umno” and “Kami menolak SPRM, boleh blah.” (Disciplinary board is senile; Don’t usurp Umno member’s right: We reject the MACC: butt out)

When Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi arrived at 8.35pm, the group presented a memorandum to him.

Among its contents was a protest against Umno disciplinary board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen’s suggestion that the main wings of the party be abolished and on the alleged beating of Umno members during interrogation by MACC officers.

Zuraidi Abd Rahim, who claimed to be a delegate from Baling, said the group represented about 2,500 Umno Youth delegates nationwide.

He claimed that 39 party members in Pahang were called for interrogation by the commission, alleging that some of them were beaten.

“Two or three of them have lodged police reports,” he said, adding that the reports were attached to the memorandum.

Zuraidi said party grassroots were hoping the leadership would listen to their plea and make the necessary changes.