Umno wants reps who quit party to vacate their seats

KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders of the three Umno wings yesterday concurred on the need for the party to take stern action against its elected representatives who quit the party, as well as for the former members to vacate their seats.

The reason, they said, being that the elected representatives concerned contested the seats on Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket when they were Umno members, as well as using the party machinery and funds, and as such, had betrayed the party’s trust and mandate given by the voters when they decided to leave Umno.

Wanita Umno leader Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said although it was not against the law for the elected representatives concerned to quit the party, their action was a breach of social contract.

“The women’s wing wants reformation of the Umno Constitution party’s to enable action to be taken against party members, especially elected representatives, who quit the party.

“This is because it involves loyalty and integrity. in fact, a betrayal of the mandate given by the people,” she said in her policy speech at the movement’s conference at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday.

She also suggested for Umno to implement the loyalty pledge on all party members to put a stop to such a practice.

Umno Youth leader Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, in his speech at the party’s youth wing conference, said the party leadership should take stern action, including legal, against Umno members who left the party.

He also said Umno leaders at all levels “who are linked with any problems” should leave the party in honour.

Meanwhile, Puteri Umno leader Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan, in her speech at the movement’s conference, called on the party president to take action against Umno elected representatives who quit the party to become independents or join other political parties.

The three Umno leaders also concurred on the need for Sabah Umno to be given autonomy.

According to Asyraf Wajdi, by doing so, it would reflect Umno’s commitment and sincerity in recognising the special position and status of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federal Constitution.

“We want Umno to be the first national party to start the pragmatic move in giving autonomy to Sabah Umno as a recognition of the state being a key entity in the formation of the Federation of Malaysia.

“It is also a recognition of the rights and interests of Umno members in Sabah as the state with the highest number of membership, where nearly 20 per cent of them are nonMuslim bumiputera,” he added.

Zahida said giving autonomy to Sabah Umno would be in line with the change in the country’s political landscape.

On the cooperation between Umno and PAS, Noraini and Asyraf Wajdi saw it as a platform to unite the Muslims and Malays, and to act as a check and balance in an effort to strengthen the opposition in the country. - Bernama