Can a member of the Umno disciplinary board, who is embroiled in a controversial divorce, judge the moral standing of others?

This is the question asked by suspended party member and prominent lawyer Zaid Ibrahim.

He questioned the credibility of the board which slapped him with a three-year suspension following reports on the controversial divorce concerning its deputy chief Zaki Azmi.

"When he (Zaki) judges others on moral or ethical grounds, then he must be able to live up to that. Otherwise he should step down ... it is only appropriate that he steps down.

"In view of this, they should reconsider my case. The matter is under appeal but there are more reasons why they should reconsider my case now," he said when met today.

Zaid, who is the Kota Baru Umno division head, was suspended in April for criticising the board in Parliament.

The board had earlier found him guilty of money politics during last year's party polls and let him off with a stern warning .

Following his public outburst, he was cited for 'contempt' by failing to tender a public apology to the board and was subsequently suspended.

Zaid later claimed that he had apologised twice and stated that he was merely questioning the disciplinary process.

Submitted resignation

Meanwhile, Bernama quoted unnamed sources as saying that Azmi has resigned as deputy chairman of the Umno disciplinary board.

The agency said that Zaki had tendered his letter to the board this morning.

"The letter was received and Tengku (board chairman Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail) will decide on the next course of action," Bernama quoted the sources as saying.

Media report today had stated that Zaki was expected to resign following the divorce with his second wife.

Zaki, 60, married Nor Hayati Yahaya, 32, in May this year. He has since applied to the Syariah Court to declare the marriage null and void.

The duo had married in a ceremony presided by a kadi from Thailand and both of them had agreed to burn the original marriage certificate to hide the matter from his first wife.

They also reached an agreement before the marriage that if the relationship soured, they would part ways.

After several disagreements and disturbing text messages, Zaki divorced Nor Hayati on July 10.

Since then, Zaki claimed that he had received various threats from Nor Hayati, who, among others, allegedly asked him for RM10 million.

She had also allegedly urged him to register their marriage, failing which, she threatened to tarnish his reputation.