The disciplinary action against Umno leaders reflected the wish of the disgruntled grassroots, said Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz today.

She was commenting on the unprecedented six-year suspension imposed upon party vice-president and Federal Territories Minister Mohd Isa Abdul Samad on Friday.

"If you go down to the grassroots, that's what they are talking about. In fact from my own feedback, they are not happy that the thing (to take action) took so long.

"They kept asking me - what is the party leadership doing, is nothing happening, or is there really no money politics?" said Rafidah, who is also the International Trade and Industry Minister, at the Parliament lobby.

The veteran politician, who herself had been accused of corruption on many occasions, added that sending top leaders to the guillotine showed that the party acts without fear or favour.

"I have been hearing so far as to why action is taken against small fries only. When they see something happening at the high level, they are convinced the party means business," she said.

Rafidah also pointed out that the disciplinary action taken against senior Umno leaders should not cast an aspersion on the party's integrity but must be viewed in a positive light.

She said the actions were in line with the party's policy and the vast majority of members accepted the decisions.

"Certainly, there would be people who are unhappy because (these leaders) have their own supporters, but we have to respect party discipline," she added.

ACA must step in

The decision to crackdown on errant Umno leaders was also welcomed by DAP chairperson Karpal Singh, who returned to Parliament in a wheelchair after a long hiatus following a six-month suspension and a car accident.

Karpal was suspended last September for 'misleading' Parliament last September, and later suffered a spinal injury when his taxi was slammed by another car early this year.

He also commended Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Umno president, over the move.

"The prime minister should be praised. He is (going) in the right direction. (But) this should have been done a long time ago - former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not do so," he told a press conference at the same venue.

The veteran opposition leader also called on the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to initiate investigations against Umno leaders found guilty of money politics.

"The ACA should step into the matter after all the disciplinary procedures and appeals have been exhausted because under the act, there is a provision that anyone involved in money politics or corruption can be charged, and this has been admitted by Umno," he said.

On the same note, Karpal, who is a lawyer, stressed that Mohd Isa should be given every opportunity to defend himself as it was important to strictly comply to the rules of natural justice.