Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa has maintained that the party leadership did not interfere in the affairs of its disciplinary board.

"It should be stressed that the disciplinary board was formed under the party constitution and remains independent.

"It is untrue that there was interference in the process or proceedings of the disciplinary board," Annuar (photo) said in a statement today.

This is after the Umno disciplinary board chairperson Mohamed Apandi Ali alleged interference after a disciplinary hearing against the party's Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein, slated for Dec 26, was postponed.

"I did not order the postponement, there is something wrong here," Apandi had said.

Apandi also said he instructed the board's secretary to prepare his resignation letter following the postponement, stating that he did not want to be a "kuda tunggangan" (lackey).

However, Annuar said he had yet to receive Apandi's resignation and hopes that the matter can be cleared up when the latter returns from overseas.

"I had the opportunity to speak to Apandi, who confirmed he is on holiday abroad. I was given a picture of what had happened and agreed that the matter needs to be properly discussed when Apandi returns from his holiday.

"The confusion about the process and action of the disciplinary board can be cleared up when the board, chaired by Apandi, meets independently," he said.

Annuar added that he hopes everyone will respect the position of the disciplinary board.

The tussle over the disciplinary board's action against Hishammuddin has caused battle lines to be drawn in the party.

Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam has accused party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of blocking the disciplinary hearing against Hishammuddin.

Subsequently, Kelantan Umno Youth chief Noor Hariri Mohamed Noor and Johor Umno Youth chief Mohd Hairi Md Shah called for Lokman's sacking.

Lokman had, in October, filed a disciplinary complaint against Hishammuddin.

The complaint against Hishammuddin was over allegations that he had facilitated the defection of Umno MPs to Bersatu as well as his role in organising a meeting of Umno MPs with Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is also the PKR deputy president.

Hishammuddin has denied any wrongdoing.