KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 – The UMNO Disciplinary Board has been asked to remind all party delegates and candidates contesting in the upcoming party elections to abide by the election code of ethics.
UMNO deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said disciplinary action would be taken against candidates found to have violated the code of ethics.
“The reminder is important in view of many new faces contesting in the party elections this time,” he told reporters after opening the first Competition Law Conference, in the capital, Wednesday.
“I have asked the UMNO Disciplinary Board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail to explain thoroughly the content of the party election code of ethics,” he said.
Muhyiddin stressed on the need for the candidates to carry out their election campaign according to the rules and in a civil manner.
The UMNO election code of ethics which was first implemented in 2009, lists money politics as one of the major offences, besides slandering their opponents.
Muhyiddin said candidates who still vaguely understood the party election code of ethics and related rules should refer to the Disciplinary Board for further explanation or clarification.
“This is to avoid them having to face the board if they go against the code of ethics and the risk of their election to a post to be nullified,” he said.
On many registered candidates having withdrawn from contesting during the ‘cooling off’ period which ended on Tuesday, he said it was their own decision and this action was allowed.
“Perhaps after they had submitted their nomination papers, they realised who their challengers were and decided to pull out of the race to make way for other candidates who they think are stronger, and more experienced and capable,” Muhyiddin said.
In another development, Muhyiddin who is also Education Minister, said the RM20 million paid to consultant firm McKinsey and Co to carry out a study on the Malaysia Education Blueprint was reasonable as as it was a major exercise.
“We are using the services of international experts who will go down to each state, do open day and so on within a period of two years. It’s not an easy task,” he said.
Muhyiddin said the Education Ministry would further explain the matter later on after the details on the payment had been sorted out.
-BERNAMA
