Renegade leader unfazed by decision

Barely half an hour after being slapped with a suspension by the Umno supreme council, a defiant Ahmad Ismail again took a dig at his new nemesis - Gerakan acting president Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

"I congratulate Koh. He has won this game. Never mind. Today is his day," said Ahmad during a press conference at the Umno headquarters in PWTC, Kuala Lumpur.

Ahmad made indirect references that Koh was ungrateful for all the help extended by the Bukit Bendera Umno division over the past 18 years where the former was Penang chief minister.

"I must also thank Koh and Gerakan, for their ‘unique’ way in showing gratitude to Umno, Malays and Muslims. But we accept it.

"I want all Malays in Bukit Bendera and the country to remember this day. Do not forget - if you support Gerakan they would show their gratitude in the most unique way," he said.

Ahmad also stressed that Bukit Bendera had been the stepping stone for three big names in Gerakan - Koh, Chia Kwang Chye and Teng Hock Nam.

"I'm proud to have helped Gerakan bring up some of their leaders, from Bukit Bendera to the national level. That shows I’m not a racist," he said in jest.

Ahmad and Koh were engaged in a war of words since the former was quoted as saying that the Chinese community were mere squatters at a ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign.

Subsequently, Ahmad had blamed Koh for stoking racial sentiments by playing up the matter and Gerakan should leave BN, prompting Umno to step in and defuse the situation.

Meanwhile, Koh who bore the brunt of his outburst, was lukewarm in his response and said police must now take action over allegations of threats made by Ahmad.

"Umno's decision to suspend Ahmad Ismail is a step in the right direction. We hope this will serve as deterrent against similar irresponsible and insensitive actions," he said.

No retraction

This afternoon, Ahmad was stripped of his Bukit Bendera Umno division chief position and barred from holding any party positions for the next three years during a emergency Umno supreme council meeting.

Even after the punishment was meted out, Ahmad - who was at the party headquarters after the meeting - appeared unfazed and brushed aside suggestions that the ‘squatter’ statement would be retracted.

"No way. I made no mistake. I’m not wrong. Why should I apologise? I won’t apologise. It is because I hold strongly to my position, that’s why they take action on me. I will face the consequences. No problem. Next question?" he said confidently.

On why he needed to raise the ‘Chinese squatters’ issue in the first place, Ahmad said that during the ceramah , he was responding to calls by DAP to have the New Economic Policy (NEP) abolished.

Ahmad said the NEP was to address the British colonialist tendencies to give advantages, such as building schools, in towns filled with Chinese tin miners.

He said that during his ceramah speech, he had pointed out that the British were not fair to the anak watan (Malays) as the Chinese were pendatang sementara (squatters) in the country at the time.

(Several journalists from different newspapers have however disputed Ahmad’s account of the ceramah ).

Ahmad: I'll be back

Ahmad also indicated that the ‘suspension’ would not stop him from being active in the party, albeit unofficially, as he cannot hold posts defined in the party constitution.

"If my division is smart enough and creates a new post, such as division advisor, I can still be advisor," he said to loud cheers from a dozen of supporters who accompanied him at the press conference.

He also called for the Bukit Bendera Umno division to stay calm and claimed that he had prevented 10 buses from coming to PWTC to express support for him.

He said that his immediate plan was to tour the country and explain to Umno divisions about the matter.

"I promise one thing - I will make a comeback to Umno," he said.

Video's of Ahmad Ismail's press conference:

Ahmad unfazed by decision - 7 mins

This is what Ahmad said ... - 5 mins