Shahidan, Zahidi among four Umno leaders fired
SHAH ALAM - Umno confirms that the membership of four individuals in the party was dropped after it was found to have run for the opposite party for the 15th General Election (GE15) on Saturday.
Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the four members were Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin who was running as an independent candidate for the Padang Besar parliamentary seat; Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim (Arau Parliament); Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (Maran Parliament) and Datuk Azhar Ahmad for the Kuala Perlis State Assembly seat.
"The termination of their membership is in accordance with Clause 20.11 of the Umno Constitution.
"It clearly states 'a member who wins the contest and leaves the party or is running as an independent candidate or an opposing party in the House of Commons elections and the State Assembly will lose its membership automatically," he said in a statement on Monday.
Hence, he said that with the withdrawal of the membership, their positions at the Umno Division level would be held by the Deputy Chief of Umno Division.
He also said that several other members including those who were seen accompanying the four candidates at the nomination centres would also face punishment.
"They are seen accompanying the four candidates during the nomination process which can be deemed to support the candidate of the opposing party is currently under investigation before further action is taken," he said.
On Saturday, the media reported that Arau Division Chief Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib contested the Arau and Maran Parliament on the Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket.
Another one was Padang Besar Division Umno Chief Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin who is running as an independent candidate in the Padang Parliament and Titi Tinggi State Assembly.
Following this, Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party leaders who acted as such would be sacked with immediate effect.
