Unrepentant Ahmad wants Gerakan trio to apologise

Local Umno warlord Ahmad Ismail said Gerakan's top leaders must apologise to him if they want to work together with the Bukit Bendera Umno division again.

The vocal Penang politician was suspended for three years last September for describing non-Malays as 'pendatang' or immigrants during the Permatang Pauh by-election.

However, the Umno supreme council decided to lift the suspension last Friday - a little over one year after imposing the punishment.

Contacted by Malaysiakini , Ahmad wanted Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon, party state chief Dr Teng Hock Nan and former Bukit Bendera MP Chia Kwang Chye to publicly apologise to him.

He claimed that the trio were responsible for the breakdown in relationship between Gerakan, his division and Penang Umno during the height of the controversy.

At one point, enraged supporters of Ahmad had even torn posters of Koh.

"Even if they apologise, I will still have to consider whether to accept it or not," he said.

Ahmad, who came under fire from the Gerakan leaders then, said unlike the Barisan Nasional component party, Bukit Bendera Umno was not dependant on Gerakan’s support for its survival.

He pointed out that of the four seats in Bukit Bendera – one parliamentary and three state – Gerakan contested three while MCA stood in one state seat.

The Umno leader said due to geo-political circumstances, Umno was not going to contest in Bukit Bendera.

"So politically, Gerakan needs our support to win back these seats. They are dependent on us but we don't need them," he added.

'I never left Umno'

On his future in Umno, Ahmad said he has always been active in the party even during his suspension.

"I never left Umno... I was only suspended from holding positions," he added.

During his suspension, the division leadership was helmed by Jalil Ariffin via party elections last year.

Ahmad said Jalil had suggested holding a fresh elections in order to pave the way for his return to the top post.

However, Ahmad said he would discuss with Umno president Najib Abdul Razak tomorrow afternoon on the proposal.

Meanwhile, Penang Umno welcomed the decision by the Umno supreme council to lift the suspension on Ahmad.

"I believe the party supreme council had seriously considered the matter before making the decision and Penang Umno would always welcome Ahmad," he said.