The Malaysian Insider understands that the decision was reached in the name of “natural justice”, to give Zulkifli sufficient time to respond to a second show cause letter dated Feb 16.

The Feb 16 letter was issued to the parliamentarian following his open attack against DAP, which the Islamic hardliner labelled as racists, anti-Islam and the “thorn” in Pakatan Rakyat’s Islamic cause.

It is understood that the mood at the board’s meeting on Zulkifli’s fate today was “neutral”, unlike what had transpired at the party’s political bureau meeting the night before.

The Malaysian Insider understands that many, including Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, were calling for Zulkifli to be axed from the party.

“Those on the disciplinary board are not interested in politicking. They are only interested in giving a fair hearing to all involved, including Zulkifli.

“After lengthy deliberation, we felt that it’s best to postpone it (Zulkifli’s hearing) to the said date so he can have time to respond to the second show cause letter and [we] might as well just carry the old case to this date as well,” a party official told The Malaysian Insider.

Zulkifli, who was supposed to face the board today, is currently in Korea, and had claimed during an interview with The Malaysian Insider that the trip was co-ordinated by the party.

Today was the deadline for the conservative MP to reply to the first show cause letter dated Feb 8, issued following his salvo against fellow Pakatan Rakyat peer, Shah Alam PAS MP Khalid Samad, over the “Allah” row.

PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali, however, claimed the Kulim Bandar Bharu MP was in Korea on a personal trip.

He slammed the excuse given by Zulkifli as “typical of him”.

The Kulim MP had said he was ready to face the board, but in the aforementioned interview, Zulkifli said some within his party were trying to set him up by picking the date of the hearing to coincide with his Korean trip.