KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — Former minister-turned-ambassador to the US Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said he will not discard his membership in Umno, the party he has been with for over 40 years.

But he stressed that he will remain an ordinary member and not an office-bearer, Utusan Malaysia reported today.

“Whatever happens, I will remain a holder of the Padang Rengas Umno division membership card, only, I will not do any politicking and stay as a normal member.

“When an ambassador is appointed, what is prohibited is to be an assemblyman or a MP or a senator... being a member of a political party, it is OK,” he was quoted saying in Perak yesterday.

Nazri who had been Padang Rengas MP for five terms since 2004 but did not contest in the 15th general election last November has come under public criticism after his diplomatic appointment.

However, he has defended his newest role, saying he is not the first politician to be appointed as Malaysian ambassador to the US and listed several names.

Among them were Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin who had been a founding member of the MCA and a former minister; Tun Ismail Ali who was brother-in-law to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and a former Bank Negara governor; Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman who was deputy to Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Razak Hussein; Tan Sri Jamaluddin Jarjis who had been a former Umno minister; as well as former deputy minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin and Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique who had been Federal Territories minister from 2006 to 2009.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who became prime minister three months ago too has clarified that the US had confirmed Nazri’s appointment as ambassador six months ago. - malaymail