TUN Faisal Ismail Aziz said Umno was wrong in giving him a six-year suspension over what were just his suggestions to the party president.

He said that he had not criticised or slandered Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to warrant the six years’ suspension which was imposed last night.

“They need to prove that it’s true that I have slandered and openly criticised the president,” Tun Faisal told the press at the Umno annual general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

“I feel that the views I have said were just suggestions to the president, not any criticism.”

Tun Faisal said he received the letter of his suspension from secretary-general Ahmad Maslan about 10.40pm yesterday.

The suspension is for six years, or two terms, starting March 27, 2021.

He added that he will be appealing against his suspension by next week, and for the leadership to reconsider its decision and re-examine his comments in context.

“I believe the decision to suspend me was a mistake. The facts of the case were not thoroughly scrutinised before the disciplinary board endorsed the decision.

“If the Supreme Council re-examines the context of my argumentation, they can cancel the imposed sentence.”

Tun Faisal also added that speculations have emerged since his disciplinary sentence.

“Some also questioned why the need to suspend for a long term of six years. Some say this was just a move to warn other Umno members to toe the line.”

Tun Faisal is also press secretary to Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, another critic of Zahid’s. – March 28, 2021.