SUSPENDED Umno leader Hishammuddin Hussein is the latest party member to question the party’s controversial exemption from de-registration.

“What is happening with Umno? Now they are dragging in the home minister. This is why we were fired and suspended – in case the minister would not grant the exemption,” said Hishammuddin.

He was responding to a tweet by Khairy Jamaluddin, who was fired by Umno in January. At the same time, the party also suspended the membership of Hishammuddin for six years.

During the same month, delegates in the Umno annual assembly passed a resolution for the party president and his deputy to return uncontested.

Following this, party members lodged a complaint with the Registrar of Societies claiming the resolution was invalid and against the party constitution.

The ROS, which is under the purview of the Home Ministry, has since cleared Umno of any wrongdoing.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail subsequently said it was within his power to exempt the Malay party from de-registration.

He said the decision was made pursuant to section 70 of the Societies Act.

Khairy meanwhile had questioned the need for the minister’s intervention in the case, saying the party must have done something wrong for it to be necessary. – March 8, 2023.