PETALING JAYA: Umno should take disciplinary action against Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for not abiding by the party's decision to back the current government, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

       The Padang Rengas MP criticised Tengku Razaleigh for remaining in the independent bloc.

       "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," said Nazri.

       "This is also our problem – we are afraid to take action. We need to take action without taking into account who that person is," the Padang Rengas MP was quoted as saying by Astro Awani on Thursday (May 5).

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

       Nazri said this had led to an erosion of public confidence towards Umno and it is vital for a party to be firm.

       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.

       Kelantan Umno liaison body chief Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob has since criticised Tengku Razaleigh's decision to remain in the independent bloc, saying that this is not the official party stand.