The Umno supreme council's decision to keep out its former deputy president Anwar Ibrahim has come under fire from sacked Pasir Mas division chief Ibrahim Ali.

Ibrahim, a former parliamentarian who was expelled from Umno after contesting as an Independent candidate in the March general election, described the decision as "ridiculous".

"There was no application (from Anwar to be re-admitted) and he has already categorically said he won't return to Umno," he told reporters at the launch of his book Dilema Neraca Retak at Istana Budaya in Kuala Lumpur today.

The supreme council's unanimous decision came yesterday at a meeting, with president-designate Abdullah Ahmad Badawi saying the party would not allow in Anwar even if he came knocking on the door.

Anwar was sacked from his post and membership in the party after being dismissed as deputy premier in 1998.

Ibrahim said Umno's decision would be interpreted by the international community as "showing fear" and that Anwar would likely be hounded by the foreign media to respond.

"This is just more negative news. Umno members are bringing more harm to the party. They are bringing down Umno's respectability," he said.

Visits to Anwar

Ibrahim said he returned yesterday from Munich, Germany, where Anwar is undergoing physiotherapy following surgery to correct a slipped disc.

He said he had visited Anwar several times during his week-long stay, but that this was "merely as a friend and fellow Muslim".

"I did not talk politics at all during my visits with Anwar at the Alpha Klinik," he claimed.

Ibrahim also said he was not surprised by the Federal Court's decision today to reject Anwar's application for review of his corruption conviction.

"What's important is that he has his freedom and health. The court's decision will only have an temporary impact on his political posts, which is not as important," he said.

Tell-all book

Ibrahim said his book highlights his experiences following his expulsion from Umno in order to "seek justice", as it "violated the principle of democracy".

While he has been branded a traitor, he said the book explains that "the real traitor is Mustapa Mohamed", the minister in the prime minister's department, as well as Jeli MP, state assemblyperson for Air Lanas and Kelantan Umno liaison chief.

"Mustapa was involved in a deal with (opposition party) PAS not to follow through with election petitions filed in Kelantan. This was to protect his own position," he alleged.

Both PAS and Umno have denied there was any such pact, although their representatives had admitted meeting at a " courtesy call ".

Ibrahim, who likened his book to the Titanic and Puteri Gunung Ledang , said it also included chapters on Anwar and money politics within Umno.

He said the book was inspired by former premier and Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who wrote The Malay Dilemma after his own sacking from Umno in 1969.