Najib: Ali Rustam Remains Melaka Chief Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will remain as the Melaka Chief Minister.

He said Mohd Ali was only prohibited from contesting in the upcoming Umno elections but remained as the chief minister.

"This is the decision of the Umno Disciplinary Board. We should respect the decision.

"I believe that Mohd Ali, as a loyal member of Umno, will accept the decision with an open heart and that he will continue to contribute to the party's struggle," he told reporters when asked to comment on the Disciplinary Board's decision to prohibit Mohd Ali from contesting in next week's party polls.

The board made the decision after finding Mohd Ali -- a candidate for the Umno deputy president's post -- guilty of violating party ethics for indulging in money politics.

Earlier Najib opened a conference on integrity and nation's competitiveness at the National Integrity Institute here.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on what it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity."

To a question on moral issue arising from the incident, Najib said, "We should look at the circumstances."

"Sometimes, we are not the source of our problems. Sometimes our supporters are over enthusiastic, resulting in us facing all sorts of accusations," he said.

Najib was also asked why the punishment meted out to Mohd Ali was different from the action taken against former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on wh it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity."

To a question on moral issue arising from the incident, Najib said, "We should look at the circumstances."

"Sometimes, we are not the source of our problems. Sometimes our supporters are over enthusiastic, resulting in us facing all sorts of accusations," he said.

Najib was also asked why the punishment meted out to Mohd Ali was different from the action taken against former Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad.

Najib said whatever the decision of the board should be respected as the panel was only working towards safeguarding the party's good name.

The Disciplinary Board, he said, was an independent body. "There is no interference in the works of the Umno Disciplinary Board. It can decide on its own based on what it deems to be appropriate to safeguard its integrity." Bernama