Umno members who openly criticise the decisions made by the party's disciplinary board will have to face the music, warned board chairperson Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen.

Effective today, he said members who criticise the board will be slapped with show-cause letters as their action is tantamount to questioning the party whereby action can be taken under Article 20 of the Umno constitution.

"We (disciplinary board) are not giving any more opportunities for members to explain or make a public apology, but will give them the show cause letters why action cannot be taken against them," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said Umno members should use proper channels in the party to voice their views and suggestions.

'Functions like a court'

One of the board's strongest critic was Kota Bharu parliamentarian Zaid Ibrahim.

Several days after he was found guilty by the board of practising money politics, the lawyer-cum-politician launched a tirade against the board in Parliament.

Apart from questioning its credibility, he also questioned if the board had the power to act beyond the country's laws.

According to him, the board did not have a recognised procedure but possessed powers similarly to that of a court to accuse people corrupt practices and punish them like criminals.

In view of this, he asked if the government should allow a disciplinary board carry out the role of a court when it does not follow the legal procedure.

Zaid, who owns the biggest law firm in the country, said if the government allowed a political party's disciplinary board to function like a court, it will also affect the government.

Last month, the politician was found guilty of breaching Section 2.2 of the Umno election ethics by appointing an agent to campaign during the party polls last year. However, he failed in his bid to secure a seat on the supreme council.

Zaid, who was let off with a warning, said that he had lost confidence in the board and therefore would not file an appeal.