KUALA LUMPUR – Veteran actor Azhar Sulaiman has announced his departure from Umno after the party purged several of its leaders this week.
In a series of posts on his Facebook account, Azhar said he was “tired” of Umno’s unending internal turmoil and looked towards putting his energy and efforts elsewhere.
Taking the moniker “Mami”, Azhar said it was also an appropriate time for him to simply “leave”, but wished “godspeed” to the Malay party.
“All this while, Mami has campaigned for Umno and BN (Barisan Nasional) for free… I did so willingly for them. Now is the time for me to leave,” he said.
Azhar, who is an Umno member, had previously urged party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign from his post, following the coalition’s abysmal performance in the 15th general election.
BN had only won 30 seats, its worst electoral performance since independence.
However, Azhar’s posting could be a reference to Umno’s recent purge of several party leaders, including former Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin and Selangor chief Tan Sri Noh Omar, on allegations that they had breached party disciplinary rules.
Another high-profile member, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who once served as vice-president, has been given a six-year suspension.
Six-year suspensions were also handed out to several other bigwigs, including former Umno information chief Shahril Sufian Hamdan, former Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif, former Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Fathul Bari Mat Jahya, and Tebrau chief Datuk Maulizan Bujang.
The actions taken by the party, which Zahid announced after an Umno Supreme Council meeting this week, were reportedly based on recommendations made by the disciplinary board. – The Vibes, January 29, 2023
