UMNO AGM | Umno is morally obligated to take action against elected representatives who leave the party, says its former president Najib Abdul Razak.

According to Najib, any victory obtained by these lawmakers at the polls were due to them running under the Umno-BN ticket.

"In terms of moral principles, we see that something must be done, as they were elected and they won on an Umno-BN ticket.

"When contesting (in the elections), the representatives were given aid (allocation) and support until they succeeded in becoming MPs," he told reporters after his successor Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivered his maiden presidential speech at the Umno annual general assembly last night.

Najib, the former prime minister, was commenting on Zahid's declaration that Umno will sue lawmakers who quit the party and demand they pay back the necessary "costs."

Since the 14th general election, Umno has seen the number of parliamentary seats it holds dwindle to 49 after the exit of five MPs from the party. It is no longer the party with the highest representation in Dewan Rakyat, as it is now tied with PKR.

The five who left the party are Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali, Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed, and Kimanis MP Anifah Aman.

At the assembly yesterday, the Wanita, Puteri and Youth wings also called for Umno to take action against party hoppers to further stem the exodus.

Even so, Najib cautioned that Umno must still adhere to the rule of law in punishing party leavers.

"There are morals in politics, but whether we can force them to stay or not, we must look at the legal aspect of it.

"They (wantaway leaders) should go to the party with their decision to leave, and offer the best solution on what to do next, such as whether to hold a by-election or anything else," he said.

'MPs represent the people, not party'

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, however, warned that Zahid would face an uphill task in carrying out his plan to sue defectors.

Razaleigh said it would be difficult for Umno to compel MPs to stay, as they are meant to serve the people, not the party. 

"I am unsure if we can do this (sue lawmakers) from a legal standpoint.

"Penang and Sabah have tried this, but it was not easy, as it not only deals with legally committing someone who has been elected by the people, but also the rights of an individual, as they offered their services to the people and not the party.

"The party may have selected that person (to contest), but the support received is not just from the party but by voters who may not all be party members or supporters," he said.

Razaleigh, who was defeated by Zahid for the Umno presidency last June, further stated that carrying on with the plan for legal action may see the party mired in deeper trouble, as it touches on individual and voter rights.

"Perhaps the MP's fights are not in the same direction as the party's struggles," he added.

Even so, party deputy Mohamad Hasan said Zahid's proposal would not be impossible to carry out, as the courts' decision could swing in any direction.

"We cannot say it is impossible, as the courts can decide in any way. But at least if we do this, it would become a hindrance (to those trying to leave)," he said, although admitting that the plan could be problematic from a rights perspective. 

"But at the very least we are taking some action," he added.

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