Five Umno members have been found guilty for various offences ranging from working against the party during the general election to lodging false report on money politics.

One member was even found guilty of campaigning for party post in his blog.

tengku ahmad rithauddeen This was revealed by disciplinary board chairperson Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail at a press conference this morning.

In all the board had deliberated on complaints on 18 Umno members in its last sitting, from which two were suspended and three others issued warnings.

Heading the list of suspended members was the Pokok Sena Umno division head Ahmad Lebai Sudin who was suspended for two years effective Dec 17 after being found guilty of sabotaging the party in the general election on March 8.

Likewise, a member of the division's Wanita wing, Halimah Hanafi, also had her membership suspended for three years - or for one election term - for lodging a false report on money politics.

Her suspension will also take effect from Dec 17. This is the first time such an action has been taken for such an offence.

Also another first was the plight of former Hulu Langat Umno division chief Ahamad Kuris Mohd Nor. He was issued a warning after being found guilty of campaigning for a party post in his web blog.

Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen said the blog-campaigning violated the Umno's code of ethics.

Also given a warning were two committee members of the Batu Umno division, Abdul Kadir Abdul Karim and Remlah Abdul Rahman.

The two were found guilty of becoming agents in holding a dinner for the purpose of campaigning in the run up to the party polls.

Decisions taken to court

According to Bernama , Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen also reminded that Umno members who referred a party decision to court would have their party membership automatically revoked under Article 20.7 of the Umno constitution.

He said that so far three cases related to the party's decision had been taken to court, involving the Ledang, Tanah Merah and Kota Tinggi divisions over claims of dissatisfaction with the party administration and elections.

He said the disciplinary board had decided on the Tanah Merah case while the Kota Tinggi case was under investigation and the Umno Management Committee had been informed in writing to expel the party members from Ledang who had taken the matter to court.

Responding to questions on Halimah's suspension, Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen said she had alleged that money politics had been practised in the divisional election and had lodged a report, but when called up by the board for investigation, she had amended her complaint.

He was also asked on the allegations of money politics at the level of the deputy presidency and whether there had been a probe.

"I cannot say anything lest I be sued," was his response.

Statistics on complaints

He said the disciplinary board receives complaints and conducts investigations based on the date the complaints were registered and did not favour anyone.

He also revealed that the disciplinary board had received 865 complaints from last year to Dec 22 this year, from which 224 matters have been decided upon and 93 still waiting to be probed.

He added that the board was waiting for further details in 82 cases while 133 complaints have been put aside for no further action.

The veteran party leader also said that so far - since 2007 - a total of 23 members have been found guilty and 26 found innocent.