Radzi prays for Dr M-Pak Lah meeting
Malaysiakini
Oct  10, 2006

Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is praying for something good to happen in this holy month of Ramadan - namely a meeting between former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"Who knows. May be God will open up the hearts of both of them to agree to meet each other," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Mahathir has been critical of Abdullah's administration, especially regarding several key decisions like the scrapping of the bridge project to replace the Johor causeway.

Queried whether there were indications that such a meeting would take place, Radzi, who is also home minister, merely said he is praying for something like that to happen.

On whether Mahathir would be allowed to address the Umno pre-council meeting prior to the party general assembly proper in November, he said it was a closed-door meeting to be attended by only selected people.

To another question, Radzi said an invitation for Mahathir to attend the general assembly would be sent probably after the Aidilfitri celebrations.

"We think that we'll have to send him (the invitation) personally. We normally do that," he said, explaining that this would be the case for all VVIPs.

Kubang Pasu probe

In a related matter, Radzi said he does not interfere in the affairs of the party’s disciplinary board.

"Only when they have done their investigations and all that they will give me a copy of their report in a sealed envelope, and, depending on the advice of the management committee, I may bring it to the Umno supreme council," he said.

He was responding to queries surrounding complaints of money politics against the Kubang Pasu Umno division lodged by five Umno members to the party headquarters recently.

Radzi dismissed the notion held by many that as party secretary general he would know everything.

"I don't interfere at all, and they (the disciplinary board) are not obliged to report to me," he said.

On the reported disappointment of the Kedah Umno liaison committee over the action of the complainants in forwarding their report directly to the Umno headquarters, Radzi said Menteri Besar Mahdzir Khalid should have been informed about their decision.

"He should have been told about it. That's all," said Radzi who nevertheless admitted that there was nothing to stop Umno members from going straight to the disciplinary board.

To a question, he said he had no idea how long it would take the board to probe the matter.

The Sept 9 contest saw Mahathir failing in his bid to be elected as one of the seven delegates to represent the Kubang Pasu division at the party general assembly. However, his son Mukhriz was successful.

The former premier blamed his defeat on money politics and a preferred candidates list.