10 Umno branches seek to join Bersatu after GE14

SHAH ALAM: Kota Raja Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia has received applications from close to 10 Umno branches within the Sungai Kandis constituency expressing intention to join it after the 14th General Election (GE14).

This was seen as an advantage to PKR candidate in the Sungai Kandis by-election Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.

Kota Raja BersatuYouth chief Nadzri Abdullah said the intention of these Umno branches were made known to him by Umno division and Youth leaders.

However, he said, they needed to follow the procedure set by the Bersatu leadership for acceptance of membership.

The procedures must also be followed if they wished to convert an Umno branch into a Bersatu branch, Nadzri said.

“Either they dissolve the branch first (Umno) or set up a new Bersatu branch. We are willing to help in setting up a sponsorship committee,” he said.

Nadzri also said there had been an increase in the number of requests from Umno members to join Bersatu after GE14.

“Most of them are youth who used to support Umno. Some had contacted me personally, while others had sent representatives.

“Most of the applications are from the Sungai Kandis constituency. Perhaps, that is because the majority in the area are Malays,” he said yesterday.

Nadzri, who is Bersatu Youth executive committee member, said since May, the number of new Bersatu members in Kota Raja, specifically Sungai Kandis, had increased by some 40 per cent to 50 per cent, compared with the number of members prior to GE14.

“Some of the applicants were Umno members, while others were not aligned with any political parties. But a majority who wanted to register (as members) are those who voted for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last GE14,” he said, adding that he had informed them to adhere to the decisions and policies set by Bersatu.

A Kota Raja Umno division leader said several Umno branches had become inactive after GE14.

However, the person denied that the branches had been dissolved.

The leader, who declined to be named, said this was due to the inactivity of the branches, and that they had also failed to send representatives to the recent Umno division meeting.

“Yes, there are branches that are not active, especially after GE14. But Umno will continue to ensure they will be revived.”

He declined to comment if the situation had resulted in some people pledging support for Pakatan Harapan.

According to the Umno constitution, any branch that fails to convene or conduct meetings cannot send representatives to attend division-level meetings and cannot vote in party election.