KUALA LUMPUR – Four now-former Umno bigwigs – Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib, and Datuk Azhar Ahmad – have been formally sacked from the party for contesting in the election under a different banner.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the memberships of the four individuals were automatically revoked when they decided to contest either under Perikatan Nasional or as independents.
“The removal of their memberships is in line with Clause 20.11 of the party constitution.”
In line with that, Ahmad said the division posts held by the four of them will be taken over by the respective deputies.
He added that other Umno members accompanying the four candidates during the nomination process last Saturday could be seen as supporting the opposing parties.
“They are currently being investigated before further action is taken,” he said in a statement today.
Last Saturday, Shahidan and Ismail submitted their nomination papers to contest under the PN-PAS banner in a bid to defend Arau in Perlis and Maran in Pahang, respectively.
Zahidi will be defending Padang Besar in Perlis as an independent and is also running for the Titi Tinggi state seat. Azhar is standing in the Kuala Perlis state seat as an independent.
This comes just after PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that Shahidan and Ismail have not yet joined PAS or any PN component party even though they are defending their respective Arau and Maran seats on PN’s ticket.
He added that election regulations do not compel any candidate to be a member of a party to be eligible to contest. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022
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