An Umno division leader is trying to strike back at the controversial suit filed by party member Anina Saauddin today against the president, Najib Abdul Razak.

Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee said the suit filed by Anina does not represent the party or its three million members.In his latest blog posting this afternoon, Syed Ali blamed the media for placing what he described as a “convoluted” headline that screams Umno initiated the legal suit.

In the blog posting titled “Please put your thinking cap, media workers...”, he asked how could this legal action by one grassroots member could reflect the aspirations of three Umno million members.

“I believe the party member has every right to mount a charge in court against party president Najib Abdul Razak. But it is misleading for the member to say that it's being done on the behest of the party and even more inappropriate for the media to be trigger-happy about it,” he said.

Syed Ali cited reports on Anina ( photo ) saying she had no choice but to fight the PM in court to reclaim a large chunk of the RM2.6 billion in Najib’s personal bank accounts that Najib claimed to be “a donation”, since the Umno supreme council has refused to take action against the party president and prime minister.

“My question is this: if the party's top body has not initiated a fight in court against the PM, how could this legal action by one grassroots member reflect the aspirations of three million members?” he asked.

Syed Ali said while he supports the media reporting without fear or favour, it must also be able to use its discretion and more importantly, common sense.

“It cannot, in the name of freedom, become the tool of some self-serving politicians or civil society.

“Umno remains supportive of Najib. And I hope a handful of dissatisfied party members and the media will not engage in dirty tactics to project others,” he said.

Will suit lead to Umno being de-registered?

Meanwhile, Umno-linked blog MYKMU.net also commented on the suit, saying the move may bring the party to a new crisis, as what had happened in 1988 when the nationalist Malay party was de-registered.

The blog said 11 Umno members filed a summons against the party president and the secretary-general in 1987, following claims that some members were bankrupt and the existence of phantom delegates.

Following the incident, the blog added, the party approved a new regulation barring members from taking party issues to the court, based on Article 20.7 of the party constitution, and if they do, they would cease to be members.

“This suit can be struck out as Article 20.7 is enforceable as what is needed is to have someone who has the locus standii (legal standing) to initiate the suit. Since, any person who brings the suit ceases to be a member, then the person cannot bring the suit,” MYKMU.net said.

The blog added that Najib and the party secretary-general could allow this to happen and this would result in the party to be declared illegal.

“If Umno is declared illegal, this is a good chance for Najib to form a second Umno party comprising of his own pro-tem committee whom he trusts to strengthen Umno come the 14th general election in 2018.

“The summons is illogical as Najib never said that the political donation is for Umno. What he said is that the money is for the 2013 general election campaign. The contribution is deposited in a personal account or as a trust, need not be reported in Umno's finances. Umno's statement of accounts only reports expenses from Umno's official accounts.”

The suit, has no other intention,the blog said, but to shame Najib.