Tough times for Umno sec-gen
Annuar struggling to keep party together as more members leave
We have to do more road tours to engage more Umno leaders and members. Tan Sri Annuar Musa
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa has confessed to having a hard time “keeping everyone together” as yet another assemblyman announced his decision to leave the party, while talk is rife that more Umno assemblymen in Sabah are expected to jump ship.
Kedah state speaker Datuk Ahmad Kassim announced yesterday that Guar Chempedak Umno assemblyman Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail is now an independent.
Annuar said he received information that “people are approaching our MPs and assemblymen. Some of them have also made up their minds to cross over.
“So, I’m having a tough time as secretary-general to keep everyone together.
“That is why we have to do more road tours to engage more Umno leaders and members,” he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
Annuar was asked to comment on Ku Abdul Rahman, 62, who announced that he had left the party to become an independent representative.
Ku Abdul Rahman, from Yan, was a Barisan Nasional assemblyman since 2008 and was appointed a state exco member from 2013 to 2018.
He also served as political secretary to then defence minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar from 1997 to 2001.
He has a PhD in Rubber Science from Loughborough University in England.
Annuar said he respected the decision of its MPs and assemblymen, adding that the current political climate was very different from before.
Several Umno politicians left the party following the 14th General Election.
Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed is the latest senior Umno leader to resign after serving the party for more than 40 years.
Other party stalwarts who have left include Kimanis MP Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, former Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin and Bagan Seri MP Datuk Seri Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.