FORMER Umno man Khairy Jamaluddin today insisted that due process was not followed in his sacking from the party last Friday.

Speaking on BFM’s The Breakfast Grille, the former Health Minister said he was only notified of his sacking by friends in the Umno Supreme Council as well as on social media.

“I did not receive any show-cause letter nor was I called to defend myself to the disciplinary board. I was told by friends in the council and through social media after the secretary-general issued a statement late Friday night,” Khairy said this morning.

He was asked to comment on Umno information chief Isham Jalil’s statement yesterday who said that the sacking and suspensions were done according to the party’s constitution.

Isham had said the dismissal or suspension of members needed to be referred to only the Umno Supreme Council. He also said Khairy had openly attacked party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the run-up to the last general election.

Khairy branded this an unfair comment.

“I represent the new generation in Umno. I was trying to revive the party after it had not performed well in the last two general elections, I wanted to restore the grand old party,” he said.

“My criticism against party leadership was not to run it down but to give it hope.”

Asked why on he was sacked, when the likes of Hishammuddin Hussein was only suspended, the former Umno youth chief said Zahid may still need Hishammuddin as the ex-Umno vice president is a parliamentarian.

“If Hisham were not an MP, he may be expelled just like me. Zahid needs the numbers in government that is why Hisham was not sacked,” said Khairy.

On Friday night, Umno sacked Khairy and Noh Omar, both veteran leaders, for allegedly working against the interests of the party.   

Hishammuddin and incumbent deputy Umno Youth chief Shahril Hamdan were suspended for six years.   

Also suspended were former Jempol MP Mohd Salim Shariff and former Tiram assemblyman Maulizan Bujang.  

Besides Khairy and Noh, 42 other party members were also expelled – nine from the Putrajaya division, five from the Pasir Gudang division, two from the Tanjung Karang division, and 26 from Pahang. – January 30, 2023.