PONTIAN: The Umno supreme council has yet to make a decision on actions to take against veteran lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, says Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

       The party’s secretary-general said any decision on disciplinary action against an Umno member, including Tengku Razaleigh, should come from the council.

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       "Tengku Razaleigh is still an Umno member although he has resigned as Umno advisory council chairman and has also opted to sit as an independent in the Dewan Rakyat.

       "We respect him as he is Tengku Razaleigh. At the moment, the Umno supreme council has not decided what to do with him following his actions.

       "For me personally, whatever opinion or decision involving a party member, especially someone who has been a party leader, should only be done by the council," he added.

       He said this to the press when met during his Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house at Rumah Citra here in Benut, Pontian on Saturday (May 7).

       He was responding to questions on whether disciplinary action should be taken against the Gua Musang MP for not abiding by the party's decision to back the current government.

       Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz had criticised Tengku Razaleigh for remaining in the independent bloc, adding that disciplinary action should be taken against him.

       "His letter to the Dewan Rakyat speaker is already enough for us to take action against him, as he no longer supports the government of the day led by an Umno president. That is opposing.

       "This is also our problem, we are afraid to take action. We need to take action without taking into account who that person is.

       "In certain situations, Umno's disciplinary board sacks certain people. But when it comes to Tengku Razaleigh, the board is afraid to take action," said Nazri.

       Last July, the Gua Musang MP sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun requesting to change his seat in Parliament to the independent bloc.

       Recently, it was reported that Tengku Razaleigh will head a new coalition called Angkatan Amanah Merdeka Rakyat Kelantan in an effort to topple the PAS-led Kelantan state government in the upcoming general election.