Last-ditch bid by ‘thorn in flesh’ to save political career?

IPOH: Bagan Serai MP Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali’s (pix) leaving Umno was dismissed as a lastditch effort to save his political career.

A Perak PKR official said he was known as an Umno politician who made “sarcastic statements” while his own party’s division head said he was a “thorn in the flesh”.

“We all know him as a person in Umno who makes sarcastic statements which did not reflect his sensitiveness towards the rakyat who had elected him,” Perak PKR Information chief Siti Aishah Shaik Ismail said in a statement yesterday.

“We maintain our principle that anybody can pledge his support to us, but it is not a guarantee to be accepted by Pakatan Harapan (PH).

“Azmi should use the present time to ask for forgiveness from the rakyat for his behaviour and also the support to Umno and BN. Allow PH to serve as a government elected by the people and let those like Azmi to be newsmakers.”

Noor Azmi, who is the Malaysian Highway Authority chairman, had pledged his support to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Perak Mentri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu after abandoning Umno.

The Bagan Serai Umno division said it was not surprised with Noor Azmi’s decision. “We saw it (coming) based on his actions after the 14th general election,” its head Datuk Sham Mat Sahat said.

“The people of Bagan Serai, especially Umno supporters are aware and (it is) expected … in fact they welcome the decision. Let him leave Umno and BN. Otherwise he will be a “thorn in the flesh.”