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Barred Warned Cleared
DISCIPLINARY BOARD FINDS ALI RUSTAM GUILTY OF BREACHING UMNO ETHICS
by Maria J. Dass
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
UALA LUMPUR: Umno’s disciplinary
K
board yesterday barred Malacca Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam
from contesting the deputy presidency at
the party’s general assembly next week after
finding him guilty of breaching party ethics.
Umno Youth chief contender Khairy
Jamaluddin got off with a warning for the same
offence, while his rival for the post, former
Selangor mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir
Toyo, was cleared of corruption and money
politics.
Mohd Ali and Khairy were found guilty of
breaching rule 10.1 of the party ethics, which
is presumption of guilt owing to the actions of
a third party (who could be an agent, lobbyist
and campaign or polling manager). The penalty
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meted out depended on the degree of guilt.
They were among 15 found guilty of
various offences, ranging from money politics,
misuse of the media and the internet, the use of
lobbyist and agents and for conduct during party
administrative duties (see list on page 2).
Another 14 members and contenders who
were also investigated because of complaints
lodged against them were found not guilty.
After delivering the probe findings at an
eagerly-awaited press conference at Umno
headquarters, disciplinary board chairman
Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail
explained that rule 10.1 stated that a principal
was presumed guilty as he was vicariously
liable for the acts and offences committed by
his agent.
He said the allegations against Mohd Ali
were deemed as presumptions as he was not
caught red-handed but was still liable for the
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actions of those associated with him, and had
to give a reasonable explanation.
Mohd Ali’s political secretary Saadun
Basirun, who is also Bukit Katil division
committee member, was found guilty of money
politics and offences related to lobbying for
votes. “He (Mohd Ali) is also presumed guilty,
going by the actions of Saadun,” said Tengku
Rithauddeen.
Asked why Mohd Ali received a harsher
punishment than Khairy, he said: “The
punishment must fit the crime. No two cases
are the same.
“The degree of the offence under (rule) 10.1
could differ. It could be for money politics or for
‘makan-makan’. It depends on what he does.”
He said the level of seriousness of these
offences could not be equated.
» Turn to Page 2
News without
borders
Karpal pleads
not guilty to
sedition charge
by S. Tamarai Chelvi
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national chairman
Karpal Singh was charged with sedition at
the Sessions Court yesterday for making
a statement on Feb 6 that the Sultan of
Perak could be taken to court. He pleaded
not guilty.
The 69-year-old wheelchair-bound senior
lawyer and Bukit Gelugor MP was charged
with uttering the seditious words at his
office, Messrs Karpal Singh & Co, in Jalan
Pudu Lama, between noon and 12.30pm.
The charge under Section 4(1) (b) of
the Sedition Act 1948 is punishable under
Section 4 (1) of the same act. If convicted,
Karpal can be fined up to RM5,000 or jailed
up to three years or both, for the first
offence. For subsequent offences, the jail
term goes up to five years.
Karpal is representing himself, but has a
team of 12 lawyers, including his children
Jagdeep Singh Deo, Gobind Singh Deo, Ram
Karpal Singh Deo and Sangeet Kaur, to assist
him.
Sessions judge Datuk Mohamad Sekeri
Mamat set bail at RM2,000 with one surety
and allowed an application by Deputy Public
Prosecutor Datuk Kamaluddin Md Said to
transfer the case to the High Court as Karpal
did not object. No date has been fixed for a
mention date in the High Court.
Earlier, the court interpreter was 15
minutes into reading out the charge and
the 10-page attachment containing the
alleged seditious statements when the
judge interjected and suggested that only
the underlined words (the alleged seditious
words) be read out to save time.
Karpal, however, argued that the entire
transcript should be read out, as otherwise
the passages which were not underlined
should be expunged. The judge then allowed
the interpreter to read out the attachment
which took him another 30 minutes.
This is the second time Karpal is charged
with sedition. On Jan 15, 2000, he was
accused of uttering seditious words on
arsenic poisoning while submitting in the
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sukma
Darmawan Sasmittat Madja trial in the High
Court. The charge was withdrawn in 2003.
» Bar Council: It’s selective
prosecution Page 3