Umno members contesting on rival party tickets sacked, says secretary-general
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Umno will not tolerate any treacherous action by any of its members, says secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.
PHOTO: BERNAMA
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KUALA LUMPUR - Umno leaders and members who have broken ranks by contesting or campaigning for rival parties in the 15th general election have been sacked with immediate effect, said party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan.
He said the party’s Constitution stipulated that members who contest on any other ticket or become proposers and supporters of candidates representing the opposition, could be expelled.
“Based on the reports we have received, there are Umno members who are candidates, proposers and supporters of the opposing party.
“Their membership in Umno is hereby automatically terminated in accordance with Clause 20.11 of the Umno Constitution,” he said in a statement on Saturday. “Umno will not tolerate any treacherous action by any of its members.”
Datuk Seri Ahmad did not name those who were sacked, but it was widely known that at least three Umno renegades are defending their seats against candidates who have replaced them on the Umno slate.
They are Perlis’ former chief minister Shahidan Kassim who is contesting in the Arau parliamentary ward on a Perikatan Nasional ticket and incumbent Padang Besar MP Zahidi Zainul Abidin, who is defending the seat and also contesting the Titi Tinggi state seat as an independent.
The third Umno renegade is incumbent Maran MP Ismail Abd Muttalib, who is also defending his seat in Pahang on a Perikatan Nasional ticket.
Separately, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Sunday it is up to the Election Commission to decide whether to stop the election which is due on Nov 19 if massive floods hit the country.
MetMalaysia last week forecast that the northeast monsoon season would begin on Nov 7 and last until March 2023, and it could result in flooding in low-lying and riverine areas.
