UMNO does not interfere in the affairs of its disciplinary board, said secretary-general Annuar Musa after head of the board, Mohamed Apandi Ali, quit on Thursday.

Apandi alleged someone tried to interfere in board operations.

However, Annuar said the disciplinary board was formed under the party constitution and remained independent.

“It is not true there was interference in the process or proceedings of the disciplinary board. It is free to investigate and report its findings to the supreme council,” he said in a statement today.

Apandi quit as Umno disciplinary board chairman on Thursday, alleging party leaders attempted to interfere in the board’s investigation into Hishammuddin Hussein.

The former attorney-general said he is no one’s political “puppet”.

“As a result of this development, I have told the board secretary to prepare my letter of resignation, which takes effect immediately,” he said.

“I will not be a puppet to anyone. My dignity is more important than the post,” he told The Malaysian Insight after the meeting was postponed without his knowledge.

In a letter dated December 13, the board requested Hishammuddin’s presence to answer allegations that he had breached party principles and ethics.

Hishammuddin previously said Umno should not make things more difficult when accusing him of breaching the party constitution.

The complaint against the Semborong MP was that he was trying to facilitate the defection of Umno MPs to Bersatu.

The former defence minister is also accused of organising a meeting of Umno MPs with Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is also the PKR deputy president, at his residence in Putrajaya.

Hishammuddin denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Annuar said he did not order any postponement of the meeting.

“There is something wrong here,” he had said, adding he had yet to receive Apandi’s resignation and hoped that any confusion over the matter could be cleared up when the former attorney-general returns from a holiday overseas.

“I had the opportunity to speak to Apandi, who confirmed he is on holiday abroad.

“I was given a picture of what had happened and agreed that the matter needs to be properly discussed when Apandi returns from holiday.

“The confusion about the process and action of the disciplinary board can be cleared up when the board, chaired by Apandi, meets independently,” he said. – December 28, 2019.