Kadir's quitting confirms Umno is disintegrating: More may join Pakatan soon - PKR

Warning that more Umno leaders will soon follow suit, PKR leaders slammed Prime Minister Najib Razak's party for forcing former Information minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir to resign from the party in which he has been a member for 56 years.

"Umno is disintegrating. We have been warning about this for a while and it is beginning to happen now. Their leaders no longer have faith in it and the feeling of frustration is getting stronger. They believe they might as well leave before the party implodes completely," PKR vice president Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Kadir told reporters on Monday that he had sent his letter of resignation to Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan, after the latter publicly questioned his loyalty for raising the issue of corruption in Umno.

"Why doesn't he resign first if he doesn't feel Umno is right," Adnan had told the press over the weekend.

Red card for those who speak up on corruption

Adnan got his wish today. The Umno sec-gen had also said that the disciplinary board was gathering information and proof on the slew of alleged negative statements made by Kadir against his party. Further action would be taken by the Umno supreme council, Adnan warned.

Kadir was reported to have claimed that the BN gave between RM200 to RM1,000 to buy votes in the last general election.

Kadir is the deputy president of Angkatan Amanah Merdeka or Amanah, a third force reformist platform founded by another Umno stalwart, Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Another prominent member of Amanah is Pandan MP Ong Tee Keat.

The group raised eyebrows with its reformist agenda, speaking up on the corruption perceived to be the cancer destroying the Umno-BN's credibility.

"Kadir's resignation proves that Umno will never change. It won't even admit that it needs to be reformed or there is corruption that must be weeded. Those who speak up get the red card. Those who are caught red-handed but are close to the Umno president can get away with a slap on the wrist," said Tian.

Exodus once Parliament is dissolved

Over the past months, there have been notable resignations from Umno and BN joining the Pakatan Rakyat. More are expected to follow once Parliament is dissolved and their tenure as BN elected representatives duly ended.

Speculation is now rife over when the 13th general election will be held. Former Finance minister Daim Zainuddin has predicted Parliament will be dissolved in May and Malaysians to go to the ballot boxes n June.

However, there is growing belief that Najib - who is due to visit China next month - would again chicken out on this timeline and call the vote only in November.

Malaysia Chronicle