Shafie gets a Sudirman tribute in Kedah

Applause and cheers as Jerlun Umno plays the song Warisan about lost love

VIDEO INSIDE

JITRA: Jerlun Umno members serenaded party vice-president Shafie Apdal with Sudirman’s song Warisan today in a strong show of support for the former minister dropped from the Cabinet for questioning issues related to party leader Najib Razak.

Shafie was guest-of-honour at the divisional meeting today and was about to speak when delegates began to cheer as the song, with a verse about abandoned love, played behind him.

The master of ceremonies announced “this song is dedicated specially to Datuk Seri” and Shafie smiled at delegates in appreciation of their support.

Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir applauded, and the MC asked members to rise, as a show of respect and support for Shafie.

The verse which the Umno members found significant was about lost love.

Andai ku terbuang tak diterima,
Andai aku disingkirkan,
Kemana harusku bawakan,
Kemana harusku semaikan cinta ini.

(If I was abandoned, not welcomed, If I was dismissed, To where shall I bring, To where shall I seed this love)

Shafie, who is MP for Semporna, was dismissed from the Federal Cabinet as rural and regional development minister last month, along with deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, because of their comments on 1MDB.

Since his dismissal he has made visits to several other Umno divisions, in Johor and Sabah, and his first to Kedah, home state of Mukhriz and his father former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has led a campaign for months urging Najib to leave office because of 1MDB.