The Malaysian Insight

THE top Umno leadership should meet the party’s elected reps more often to prevent them from quitting the party like what has happened with several MPs and assemblymen, Perak Umno deputy chief Saarani Mohamad said.

The Kota Tampan assemblyman said it would be good for the leaders to communicate with the reps from time to time.

He said leaders should also boost the morale of Umno and Barisan Nasional reps who might be feeling pressured after the coalition’s defeat in the 14th general election.

“In Perak, we have a WhatsApp group with our 25 assemblymen. We don’t always meet in person, but we talk in the chat group.

“I have told (acting president) Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to meet the reps more often for that personal interaction.

“If we leave the reps alone, he or she will get stressed out and feel lonely. But when we are together, we will feel strong,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Saarani was commenting on Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali’s exit from Umno and his expressed support for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Pakatan Harapan governments at state and national levels.

After Noor Azmi’s departure, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abu Fasal has also resigned from the party this afternoon to protest the sidelining of his team.

Syed Abu Hussin said members of his team who had managed to deliver results in the May 9 elections were treated poorly by party grassroots at the division polls.

Before the two MPs left, two Perak state reps, Zainol Fadzi Paharuddin of Sungai Manik and Nolee Ashiling Mohammed Radzi of Tualang Sekah, quit Umno just a week after GE14.

While Noor Azmi reportedly expressed hopes of joining Dr Mahathir’s party Bersatu, Syed Abu Hussin said he would stick to being an independent MP.

Meanwhile, Bota assemblyman Khairul Shahril Mohamed said the government should amend the constitution to prevent party hopping by elected reps.

“We think this (elected reps quitting parties) is a betrayal to the voters and the party. Parliament should include in the constitution that party hopping is illegal.

“If an elected rep resigns from the party, then he or she also loses her seat. I am disappointed that the government had never put in this law,” the Perak Umno Youth leader said.

Yesterday, Umno presidential candidate Khairy Jamaluddin said Umno and BN should have a clear identity to prevent its reps from walking out.

The Rembau MP said one of the reasons why he was running for the top post was to lead Umno towards a clearer direction.

Political analysts are predicting many more Umno and BN reps to quit, with the lynchpin party Umno now weak and still trying to heal itself.

Apart from Umno reps quitting the party, BN has also lost most of its component members after losing Putrajaya to PH.

Sabah’s Upko, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and the Liberal Democratic Party walked out of BN within a week after the May 9 polls.

Sarawak BN parties Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), SUPP, PRS and PDP pulled out earlier this month.

Gerakan also said goodbye to BN after its top leaders made the unanimous decision last Saturday. – June 27, 2018.