GEORGE TOWN: Former senator Datuk Ahmad Ismail has become an elusive man.

Since allegedly uttering seditious remarks at a ceramah on the eve of the Permatang Pauh by-election, the Bukit Bendera Umno chief is nowhere to be found.

Police, who are investigating five police reports lodged against him in George Town, Bukit Mertajam, Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya over the past week over the offensive remark, are still waiting for him to turn up to give his statement.

Ahmad is currently being investigated under the Sedition Act for labelling Chinese as "immigrants" who do not deserve equal rights in the country.

State deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm I Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said an investigating officer had contacted him early this week, asking him to turn up at the Bukit Mertajam district police headquarters on Tuesday.

"But he never turned up and the interview was rescheduled.

"Once Ahmad gives his statement, we will wrap our investigations by Friday as most of the statements have been taken. The file will then be sent to the Attorney-General in Putrajaya for further action," he said.

Even Ahmad's personal assistant and state Umno leaders are having difficulty trying to reach him.

The assistant, who did not want to be identified, said Ahmad returned from Bangkok on Aug 31 after leading a team to a sepak takraw tournament there.

"I have been trying to contact him since but there was no response. Even his voice mail is full. I think he does not want to be disturbed and thus we should leave him alone," said the assistant.

A visit by The Star to his house in Taman Robina in Butterworth showed that his luxury bungalow, complete with a swimming pool, had been torn down. Letters were left uncollected in the letterbox.

It is learnt that Ahmad and his family are now staying at a penthouse in a guarded condominium in Tanjong Tokong, pending the construction of his new bungalow.

Bukit Mertajam Umno division chief Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said several state Umno leaders had attempted to contact Ahmad to find out what actually transpired.

"We want to know the truth as we believe his remark was taken out of context. It is best that we hear his side of the story," said Musa.