Saifuddin replies UMNO show-cause letter

Datuk Saifuddin has sent two letters to UMNO in his reply to the party's show cause demand for attending an opposition round table session held last month, The Star reported.

The former deputy minister said the first letter was from a Global Movement of Moderates (GMM) Foundation lawyer seeking clarification on the show-cause letter addressed to him in his capacity as foundation chief executive officer and not as an UMNO member.

The lawyer wanted to know if the letter was directed at Saifuddin in his capacity as foundation CEO and if so, would it also be involved.

The second reply was from Saifuddin himself, seeking clarification on three issues - if the show-cause letter was directed at him as foundation CEO or as an UMNO member; if the case had been referred to the UMNO disciplinary board as the show-cause letter was issued on behalf of the UMNO headquarters and not the disciplinary board; and what offence he purportedly committed and which section of the party constitution that he had breached.

"The show-cause letter is vague. Since it mentions that disciplinary action can be taken against me, I am asking what offence I have purportedly committed and which section of the party constitution I am alleged to have breached," he said as quoted in The Star, stating that the two letters were sent to the UMNO headquarters yesterday.

Saifuddin also said that the show-cause letter came as a surprise, as he did not expect to receive such letter.

In his defence, Saifuddin said he was there "to achieve the higher objective of politics" and that he believed in "talking to every side".

He also denied that he was at the roundtable to spy on the Opposition.

Saifuddin's action had stirred uneasiness among few UMNO leaders including UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidiand UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

The three felt that the former Temerloh MP should not have attended the Pakatan 2.0 round table meeting, and that he might have violated the party's constitution as he had committed a serious offence.

However, UMNO disciplinary board chairman Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas told The Malaysian Insider that Saifuddin's attendance at the discussion was not a problem.

On September 23, the Opposition round table meet had announced the formation of Pakatan Harapan to replace the now defunct Pakatan Rakyat.

The coalition comprised three political parties – Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Democratic Action Party (DAP) and Parti Amanah Rakyat (Amanah),

It was reported that Saifuddin, was there to represent the Youth Academy, an non-governmental organisation (NGO).