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PUTRAJAYA: Former Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail should not be locked up under the Internal Security Act just yet.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said he hoped Ahmad would go through the normal process of law.

"It is up to the home minister to decide. It will just have a huge effect on Umno and the rule of law if that happens," said Rais, who is also foreign minister.

He said he had hoped Ahmad's hearing had gone through the normal disciplinary process instead of going straight to the Supreme Council.

"But what we all agreed on is that no one, whether they are in political parties or NGO's, should bring up racial issues," he said at his ministry yesterday.

In Kota Kinabalu, United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) secretary-general Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau said Umno's decision on Ahmad showed that the party leadership was serious in curbing racial tensions.

He said, however, that BN must now work harder to regain lost ground as a consequence of Ahmad's "misguided remark".

"Whatever was the context in which Datuk Ahmad made the infamous remark, the BN would have regained a lot of lost ground had he presented an attitude of reconciliation.

"More importantly, national unity and race relations in this country would have been served much better," Tangau said in a short message service statement in reaction to the action taken against Ahmad.

In George Town, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the punishment meted out on Ahmad was inadequate since he had shown no remorse.

"He should be expelled from the party," he said.

In Kota Baru, Pas spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat said the Federal Government should also take action against Ahmad.

"I think the government should take action, not the party. If other people had said it, they would have been detained under the Internal Security Act. This is favouritism," he said.

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