Ahmad's supporters tear up Tsu Koon photo

Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took time off from breaking fast with Wisma Putra staff to call a press conference to comment on the ruckus during Ahmad's press conference in Penang earlier in the day.

Looking visibly upset, Abdullah lashed out at Ahmad for blaming other parties for the outcome of the March 8 polls.

"I am very unhappy and angry with what had happened.

"That is something we cannot accept and it is not for him to call on another component party to leave BN. It is not a matter for him to say.

"I have been told about it (the ruckus) and Najib and I will see both parties tomorrow.

"We will get him (Ahmad) to explain why it has happened the way it did. After that, we will decide on the appropriate action to be taken against him."

Abdullah said a swift decision on the matter would be made after the meeting with Ahmad today.

Asked about Penang MCA's call for him to take a stand on the issue of the Bukit Bendera Umno division chief's racist remarks, Abdullah said: "Yes I will make a stand on the issue, I certainly will."

At his press conference in Penang, Ahmad asked Barisan Nasional to throw Gerakan out of the coalition. His supporters also tore a poster of Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

Ahmad's supporters also jeered at a woman journalist for asking a question.

Things almost got out of control but Ahmad intervened to calm down his supporters. He also apologised for the incident.

However, Ahmad did not stop his supporters when they tore up a photograph of Koh, amid shouts of condemnation against the former Penang chief minister.

Ahmad is being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948 for allegedly saying that "Malaysians of Chinese origin are merely squatting in this country and hence not entitled to equality".

He allegedly said this at a BN ceramah during the Permatang Pauh by-election last month.

Najib had apologised over Ahmad's statement and stated that his views did not represent the party's.

However, Ahmad refused to apologise and blamed a Chinese daily for reporting his statement out of context.