Laili Yusof exits Bersatu to bat for Umno, saying the ‘fight has been for nothing’

KUALA LUMPUR – It is a return to the “original path” for Laili Yusof who announced his departure today as Mersing Bersatu chief as his “fight has been for nothing”.

In a lunch event with Umno heavyweights Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Laili said he has lost faith in the Bersatu leadership and that the offshoot party has “lost sight of its fundamental principles”.

“For me, Bersatu has lost sight of its direction. I feel as if my reason for joining the party, which was to fight for the people, has been for nothing.”

He added that his decision may seem sudden ahead of the Johor polls, but necessary considerations were made.

Laili, who is also Endau Bersatu election director, told a crowd of Umno supporters that Bersatu’s internal conflicts derailed the party from its original struggles, leading him to lose faith.

Denying that he had been influenced by others, he said by joining Umno, he wishes to return to the “original path” and that he will throw his support for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the polls this month.

“I hope that my decision will be taken as an example for other friends, especially those in Johor as it is still not too late to right the situation by taking into consideration the interests of the people and making sure that citizens believe in our system of democracy.”

His short speech was greeted by cheers of “hidup BN (long live BN)” and was followed by the singing of the coalition’s anthem.

The event was also attended by BN’s Endau candidate Mohd Youzaimi Yusof. Endau incumbent Alawiyah Talib is a Bersatu woman.

Endau and Tenggaroh are the two state constituencies under the Mersing parliamentary seat.

Tenggaroh’s two-term incumbent is MIC Youth chief Raven Kumar Krishnasamyi. Meanwhile, Datuk Abd Latiff Ahmad of Bersatu is the current Mersing MP.

Johor will head to the polls on March 12. – The Vibes, March 4, 2022