KUALA LUMPUR – Suspended Umno Alor Star division chief Datuk Mohd Yusof Ismail says the action taken against him could be a warning to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob if he fails to dissolve Parliament immediately.
Speaking to media in Alor Star, Kedah over news of his suspension from the party, Yusof said he has yet to receive any official notice of his suspension for six years for criticising party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Till now, I’ve not been officially informed about my six-year suspension. I only heard it from several friends in the Umno Supreme Council.
“I believe this is also a signal to the prime minister that if the Dewan (Rakyat) is not dissolved immediately, he, too, may be suspended like me.
“I’ve never been regarded as the president’s man, hence I take this as a signal to the prime minister that he should hold the 15th general election immediately,” Yusof was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.
His suspension, as well as that of former Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman from the party, was decided last night at a meeting of the Supreme Council.
Yusof said he was made to understand that Zahid did not even inform the Supreme Council last night of the specific offences he and Tajuddin are accused of that warrant their suspension.
He said he is still unsure about appealing the suspension.
He said he had criticised Zahid before, but only did so in the privacy of the Umno division chiefs’ WhatsApp group.
The decision to suspend Yusof and Tajuddin from Umno was not included in a statement by party secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan last night.
The major issue arising from the Supreme Council’s meeting last night was the consensus that Parliament is dissolved very soon in order for GE15 to be held this year. Ismail Sabri is therefore to present a suitable date to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the dissolution, Ahmad had said.
Ismail Sabri, who has been prime minister since August last year, is the first to not be Umno’s president. As a party vice-president, he ranks below Zahid who has been demanding polls be held this year. – The Vibes, October 1, 2022
