Ali Rustam accepts Umno decision but will appeal

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam said he accepted, with an open heart, the party’s disciplinary board decision that bars him from contesting the deputy president position although he had refuted any wrongdoing when he was hauled before the committee.
He also said he would appeal the decision by end of Wednesday.
He also apologised to his supporters, urged them to be calm and close ranks for the sake of party unity.
Despite being barred from contest, he said, that he would attend the party’s general assembly and would continue to work for the betterment of Umno, he told reporters at a press conference at his Seri Bendahara residence in Ayer Keroh on Wednesday.
He later attended an Umno management committee meeting chaired by Deputy President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Parliament at about noon Wednesday but declined to disclose details.
The Umno disciplinary board found Ali Rustam guilty of breaching the party’s ethics and barred him from contesting in the upcoming party’s polls on Monday.
However, his positions and membership in the party is not affected and he remains as the Malacca Chief Minister and Umno vice-president.
Also found guilty of the same offence by the board was Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin who is contesting the Umno Youth chief post but he was let off with only a warning.
Another contender for the post Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo who was investigated by the board for money politics was found not guilty.
Mohd Ali, who is said to be one of the stronger contender in the three-cornered contest for the number two post was found guilty under Article 10.1 of the party’s code of ethics, whereby he was presumed guilty for the actions of third parties.
Three of his agents who included his political secretary Saadun Basirun were found guilty of vote buying and have been suspended for three years or one term.
The other two other are a committee member of Bukit Katil Umno division Rosli Hasan and its Puteri wing deputy head Zalina Ismail.
Disciplinary board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ahmad said 29 people were investigated by the panel and 15 were found guilty and the others were cleared. Another contender for the post Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo who was investigated by the board for money politics was found not guilty.