KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — Former Gopeng Wanita Umno chief Datuk Hamidah Osman today questioned the supreme council’s decision to sack her when other leaders like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad have been even more overtly critical of the party leadership then she has.
According to Malaysiakini, Hamidah claimed at a press conference in Ipoh that she was likely made to take the fall because the party could not punish the individual or individuals they were really targeting.
“I am convinced that I was made the black sheep because they couldn’t get the person they wanted so they settled for something less and I became the victim.
“If going by who was more critical, there are others who were more vocal, such as Tun (Dr Mahathir) but why was no action taken (against him)?” she was quoted saying in the news portal’s report.
“Because I am a woman, someone (seen as) weak, so action was taken against me,” she reportedly told Malaysiakini later, after the press conference at Impian Hotel in Ipoh.
The press conference was called by Hamidah today to formally respond to the Umno supreme council’s decision on Tuesday to expel her from the party.
According to Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor yesterday, Hamidah was sacked for attending an opposition function and not because she had invited Dr Mahathir to speak at a recent event in Ipoh.
Tengku Adnan said the party received information that she had spoken out against the current leadership at the opposition event, although he did not specify further details on the matter.
It was previously speculated that Hamidah was sacked because she had organised a Bicara Negara event at Tower Regency Hotel, Ipoh, where Dr Mahathir had spoke out against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and criticised him over several issue including 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
