By Shahanaaz Habib, Zulkifli Abd Rahman, Jane Ritikos and Lester Kong

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno will decide on the fate of Bukit Bendera division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail at a special supreme council meeting today.

Party president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this yesterday after chairing a special Barisan supreme council meeting to discuss Ahmad's controversial comment.

Abdullah, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said component parties wanted "immediate and stern action" to be taken against Ahmad.

However, because it involved a party matter, they were leaving it to Umno to act.

"This issue has caused uneasiness, worry and anger among the people. Although the tone of the Barisan meeting was of mutual respect, it is clear from the feelings expressed that component parties want firm action.

"Some expressed their disappointment over what transpired while some showed anger.

"All of us are of the view that Ahmad's comments are not acceptable at all. What he said has caused anger and concern among the people, non-bumiputras and bumiputras alike, not just in the peninsula but also in Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

Abdullah said Barisan wanted to make sure that such incidents did not recur and that "no one makes such statements ever again."

He feared that if stern action was not taken this time, the issue would spread and cause uneasiness and anger among more people.

Ahmad stirred a hornet's nest recently when he said in a speeches while campaigning for the Permatang Pauh by-election that the Chinese were immigrants in the country and did not deserve equal treatment.

Despite criticisms from various community leaders, he refused to apologise.

At yesterday's press conference, Abdullah said Ahmad's comments were not an Umno stance and that the party viewed the matter seriously because the latter was a member of the party.

Abdullah said both he and his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had advised Ahmad on the matter but "somehow he has not responded in the way we expected him to."

Asked on his meeting with Ahmad earlier yesterday in Putrajaya, Abdullah said Najib and vice-president Datuk Seri Ali Rustam were present. He, however, declined to reveal details.

"Ahmad gave an explanation of what happened and what happened is what you have heard and seen on TV and YouTube," he said.

To a question on why he had failed to control the situation, Abdullah replied: "We haven't finished dealing with him yet. If by tomorrow we cannot do anything, then of course you can say that."