KOTA BARU: A Tanah Merah Umno division committee member, who was sacked after his court action led to the postponement of the divisional meeting on Nov 8, is crying foul over the matter.

Ab Rahman Ibrahim, who had claimed in his injunction that 32 delegates had not paid their membership fees and were, therefore, not eligible to attend the meeting, said the termination of his party membership was unfair.

He said he had not been given a chance to defend himself.

The 51-year-old had filed the injunction at the Kota Baru High Court on Nov 6.

He said he had to resort to legal action as the divisional committee had tried but failed to lodge their complaints through party channels to block the delegates from 30 branches from attending the meeting.
Rahman said he was surprised to receive a show-cause letter from party headquarters on Nov 13 giving him a week to respond.

He said he received another letter on Nov 18 signed by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor informing him of his sacking.

"Why give me a week's grace when they had already decided to sack me?

"They did not even wait for my reply, which I had sent on Nov 17 or call me up before the disciplinary committee first.

"I had expected to face disciplinary action but I thought they would follow the proper procedures.

"I thought I would be called up instead of being sacked outright."

He said he had been a loyal party member in pointing out a mistake but had been punished while those who did wrong had got off scot-free.

"We have proof that the 30 branches had not paid their dues to us as required by party regulations and we did not want them to attend the meeting," said Rahman. Rahman said he had not decided yet whether to appeal against the decision.