KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 - Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi downplayed the sacking of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, saying it was not unusual for the party to sack its members.
He said it was necessary for the party's supreme council to sack the former de facto law minister.
"The decision has been made, it was a normal decision and it was necessary," said Abdullah when asked to comment on Zaid's remarks earlier today that he was not even given a chance to defend himself.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the party's stand that the former Law Minister cannot appeal the decision made late Tuesday night.
But Abdullah also said Zaid is welcomed to attend Umno functions if invited.
On Zaid's argument that party members who made racist remarks did not receive similar action, Abdullah said: "It's an interpretation."
In September former Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was suspended for three years by the party for calling the Chinese immigrants.
Last weekend Zaid attended a DAP victory dinner and PKR's annual national congress.
The lawyer who was brought into Cabinet after the last general election to carry out judicial reform had also said he did not expect to be sacked from the party, arguing that his presence at opposition events merely indicated his interest in politics.
Since his resignation from the Cabinet in September, speculation has been rife that he would be joining one of the Pakatan Rakyat parties.
But today Zaid declared that he would not be joining any of the federal opposition parties and wanted to remain independent.
Yesterday Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Zaid is an asset and would welcome his admission into PR.
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