Mixed reactions to suspension

Ahmad Ismail's three-year suspension from Umno over his racist outburst drew mixed reactions from several politicians across the northern region.

A check by Malaysiakini revealed that some had different views on his suspension while others accepted the Umno supreme council’s decision and called on all Barisan Nasional parties to close ranks after the stormy affair.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng described the suspension as 'mild'. He wanted Umno to sack Ahmad in order to prove that the party had completely disassociated itself from his views and threats of violence.

The DAP secretary-general is also puzzled why the Umno leadership did not act against its Penang leaders, who fully backed Ahmad’s racist taunts as well as saying that a vernacular daily’s journalist should be shot.

"No one will believe Umno's commitment, honesty and sincerity to eliminate racism and safeguard the interests and rights of all Malaysians across racial and religious boundaries," he said.

Speaking on his personal capacity, Penang opposition leader and Umno’s Penaga state assemblyperson Azhar Ibrahim expressed disappointment with the suspension.

He urged Ahmad, who was the chief of the Bukit Bendera Umno division, to be patient and buy his time before appealing against his suspension.

"Anyway, personally I think three years is a long time in politics, and Ahmad should wait for a while and let things cool down before he appeals," he added.

Azhar also said he was unsure if Ahmad was suspended for his racial statements or because he called on Gerakan to quit BN.

The opposition leader urged all BN leaders and members to accept the decision in good faith and end all squabbles over the matter, which he felt was blown out of proportion.

Below Are The Reactions From Other Leaders

Affifuddin Omar, ex-deputy finance minister and Umno life member:

Ahmad made racist statements and took a stand in his personal capacity, thus he should be responsible for it, not the Malays or Umno. Detain him under ISA (Internal Security Act) if need be.

If Umno was serious in wiping out racism, the party leadership should demand an apology from Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) for its racist stance against the Malay special privileges.

Lau Chiek Tuan, Penang MCA deputy chairperson:

The suspension was on a defiant Umno member. The Chinese community demands an apology from the horse’s mouth itself.

Tan Cheng Liang, newly elected Penang MCA women’s chief:

Let’s bury the ghost and move forward as nation to face bigger challenges ahead

Ramli Mohd Yunus, Pokok Sena (Kedah) Umno division secretary:

Everyone jumped into the bandwagon and played the same outdated old racial issues. In the end, no one gained. Everybody lost.

Huan Cheng Guan, Penang Gerakan Youth leader:

The Umno supreme council's decision is correct and timely. We shall remain united and respect each other as one big family.

Meanwhile, Gerakan state Youth secretary Oh Teong Keong called on all BN parties to close ranks after learning harsh lessons from this episode.

Huan, Oh and two other Gerakan Youth leaders quit their positions from the BN state youth council recently in protest against Ahmad's political flare-up with Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

On the other hand, Gerakan state committee member Wong Mun Hoe described Ahmad's 'short' suspension as disproportionate compared to his offensive remarks against the Chinese community and disparaging statements against Koh.