Four Selangor Umno reps stand by party

Selangor Umno today expressed its stand to remain loyal to the party with one of its MPs, Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh, leaving the fold on Friday.

Selangor Umno chief Ismail Sabri Yaakob said all four state assemblypersons – Rizam Ismail, Rosni Sohar, Mohd Imran Tamrin and Mohd Shamsuddin Lias – would stand by the party.

“On the status of the Tanjong Karang MP Noh Omar, he is currently in Mecca performing the umrah so we can’t talk about it, but I believe he has so far maintained his status as an Umno member,” Ismail Sabri told a press conference at the Selangor Umno building today.

Also present were Selangor Umno liaison deputy chief Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan, its secretary Johan Abdul Aziz, Rizam, Mohd Imran and Sabak Bernam Umno chief Abdul Rahman Bakri.

In the 14th general election, Selangor BN only won four of the 56 state seats and two out of 22 parliamentary seats contested. All seats were won by Umno candidates. 

Support for Zahid

When asked about support for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Ismail Sabri insisted that Selangor Umno – including its Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings – remained loyal to the party.

The Umno vice-president added that the state chapter always discussed any issue first before making any decision.

“If we want to make any decision or opinion on our president, then we will hold a meeting to discuss it.

“We have yet to discuss the president’s position as we don’t have enough quorum at the moment, with many on holiday or performing umrah. 

"We will wait for them to return first, and if there is a need to discuss the issue (president’s position), then we will discuss it,” he said.

Asked about the call made by Sungai Besar Umno and its chief Jamal Md Yunos for Zahid to resign, he said each division and branch leadership had the right to voice their views, but it did not reflect the overall view of Selangor Umno.

Ismail Sabri was also asked about the dissemination of a photo of several Umno leaders, including Noh and deputy president Mohamad Hasan, meeting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

As he explained, the meeting was about the issue of the dissolution of Umno rather than the issue of more party leaders jumping ship, as alleged.

“There are two conflicting statements (pertaining to the meeting with Mahathir) but I prefer to trust the statements issued by my friends,” he said.

Commenting on Fasiah’s decision to leave Umno, Ismail Sabri said the Sabak Bernam MP's move was unfair to his supporters who had voted him on a BN ticket in GE14.

- Bernama