DISCIPLINARY proceedings against former Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has been postponed today without reason.

Umno disciplinary board chairman Mohamed Apandi Ali said the proceeding was not cancelled but refused to divulge details as to why it was postponed.

“Who says it has been cancelled? I never said cancel. There must be a reason why it is postponed,” he said in a text message via WhatsApp.

In a letter dated December 13, the board had requested Hishammuddin to be present today to face the Umno disciplinary board for breaching party constitution by going against its principle and ethics.

Hishammuddin had then responded by saying that Umno should not make things more difficult by accusing him of breaching party constitution.

Meanwhile, Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam, who lodged the report against Hishammuddin, expressed disappointment against efforts to silence the board from conducting an independent investigation.

He named president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the individual who had obstructed the probe against Hishammuddin.

He said this was the second time an investigation had been prevented against Hishammuddin, who is Sembrong Umno chief.

“The president told a WhatsApp group that he received a ‘go ahead’ from Umno representatives (to stop the disciplinary proceeding).

“This is not true at all. He made his own decision by saying the reps agreed to close the case,” he told the media at the Umno headquarters today.

The Malaysian Insight previously reported that Zahid had informed all division chiefs that secretary-general Annuar Musa had asked Apandi to withdraw the show cause letter as the issue has been resolved.

Lokman, meanwhile, urged Umno disciplinary committee members to resign if they cannot carry out their responsibilities.

“They should be impartial. They can’t be ordered. If they feel they are being controlled by the president, I suggest that they resign.”

Lokman said he was present at the Umno disciplinary board office today after he was summoned by Apandi to attend the proceeding two days ago.

He said he had carried out his responsibility as a party member and hoped for others in the party to stop supporting Prime Minister and Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a charge he had laid against Hishammuddin.

“Sorry to say but many supreme council members are supporting Dr Mahathir.

“What else can I do? I have made the report and my task is done.

“Let the party decide. But my hope is when the party election comes, throw out those who are Dr Mahathir supporters.” – December 26, 2019.