After DAP rebuff, Umno too closes door on Hulk's candidacy

 

The political renaissance of former Malacca assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee, who won the Pengkalan Batu state seat under DAP in 2018, is looking less and less likely after another of his former parties closed the door on a possible return.

Malacca Umno liaison committee chairperson Ab Rauf Yusoh told the media yesterday that Umno has many candidates who are much better and more loyal than Norhizam to contest in the 15th general election.

"Previously, DAP rejected Norhizam's proposal and now so does Umno because the party has better candidates than him. So what is the need for him when it has been proven that his loyalty is not with us in the recent state election."

"We are opposed to the idea of him contesting but if he wants to be a regular member, I welcome him," said Rauf at a press conference after the Masjid Tanah division Umno buka puasa last night, according to Berita Harian.

Last Sunday, the media reported that Norhizam is ready to join Umno or DAP again, and he is eyeing contesting the Hang Tuah Jaya parliamentary seat in the coming general election.

However, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook rejected the offer and told Norhizam to "forget about it", adding that "DAP will never accept such frogs."

Norhizam, who was an Umno member, joined DAP in 2006.

He managed to win the Pengkalan Batu state seat in 2018 under DAP’s ticket.

Quit DAP

After the Sheraton Move political coup happened in 2020, he quit DAP to become an independent assemblyperson in support of the BN and Perikatan Nasional state government.

Last October, Norhizam, who gave himself the nickname "Hulk", joined former Umno Malacca chief minister Idris Haron's move to withdraw his support toward the then government led by Umno’s Sulaiman Md Ali.

That led to the collapse of the state government, triggering a snap state election.

DAP opposed Norhizam’s request to contest the November state election under the Pakatan Harapan ticket. He then contested as an independent but lost. - Mkini