PONTIAN: Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has chosen to keep mum about the sacking and suspension of Umno members by the supreme council on Friday.
Ahmad said he left the matter to party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who will give an explanation on it.
"I will not answer any question on the sackings (and suspensions). Please think of other questions. That matter is done.
"The president (Zahid) will explain why these were done. He had issued a statement yesterday that he would explain it, and as such, I do not wish to preempt him," he said.
Ahmad said this after officiating at the new Benut 4 water tower at Jalan Wawasan, Benut, here yesterday.
He reiterated that he would not preempt Zahid in this matter when the press asked him on his advice to the grassroots on the situation.
The supreme council meeting on Friday, chaired by Zahid, saw the party sack former health minister and ex-Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and the party's former Selangor liaison chief Tan Sri Noh Omar.
A number of Umno leaders were issued with a six-year suspension, including Sembrong member of parliament Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, ex-Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, former Jempol MP Datuk Salim Mohd Sharif and Umno Tebrau division chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang.
Ahmad, who is deputy finance minister I, said the party elections this Wednesday, which had been suspended previously, would continue in two divisions.
He said the polls in Arau and Tanah Merah would be managed by the appointed administrators.
"Only two divisions were suspended, namely Arau and Tanah Merah, and they will go to the polls.
"This means that the elections this time will involve 191 divisions and 22,000 branches."
The supreme council suspended the Arau and Tanah Merah Umno branches on Jan 5 and June 16, 2020, respectively.
Umno's polls for its branches are set to run for 26 days from Feb 26. The division and supreme council polls will run nationwide on March 18.
Ahmad said all meetings and elections must be completed within the time frame so that they end before Ramadan.
The amendment to Umno's Constitution requires matters to be resolved within six months after a general election.