GE15: Majority of Umno branches in Jempol want Mohd Salim to be retained as candidate

BAHAU: Some 50 of the 62 Umno branches in Jempol want the party leadership to retain Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Sharif as the candidate for the Jempol parliamentary seat.

Division secretary Zamri Omar said members were unhappy that the leadership had decided not to field Mohd Salim who had just completed one term as MP.

He said members were also upset as Mohd Salim had made all preparations, including opening operation centres and printing election paraphernalia for the Nov 19 polls.

"We are going to close our operation centres at all the said branches as we cannot accept the decision made by the leadership.

"Jempol is a white area for Barisan and if the decision is not changed, then it may not be a safe seat anymore," he said.

Earlier, more than 100 individuals including branch heads had gathered at Mohd Salim's service centre to voice their displeasure.

It is learnt that the party had appointed Jempol Umno deputy chief Datuk Shamsulkahar Deli as Mohd Salim's replacement.

Zamri said the division did not propose Shamsulkahar, who is Serting assemblyman, as one of the candidates for the seat.

He also alleged that Shamsulkahar had on several occasions, including during the recent division meeting, stated his intention to retire.

"He had said so openly but yet we have a situation where the leadership has decided otherwise.

"This only shows that the recommendations from the divisions do not really count and it’s an exercise in futility," he said.

Zamri claimed the move was also a conspiracy against those supportive of prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"Those dropped this time have been supporting Ismail Sabri all along and they have been dropped.

"It is clearly a conspiracy," he claimed.

Both Mohd Salim and Shamsulkahar were not present at the event.

Zamri said he had been receiving lots of calls from members on the matter.

"Many said they would not vote as a sign of protest.

"This is not good," he said.

Felda Palong 8 Umno chief Salamat Taman who was also present said it was not right to remove an MP who has been working hard all this while after serving just one term.

"Our election machinery is already in top gear and ready to move anytime.

"But this news has demotivated us and we are not sure what is going to happen after this," he said.

Palong 16 party chief Abdullah Ismail concurred with Salamat, adding that there was no guarantee members would vote for Barisan Nasional.

"Shamsulkahar has served many terms as an assemblyman while Mohd Salim has only served one.

"Why remove an MP who has been doing a great job?" he asked.

In the 2018 polls, Mohd Salim won the seat with a 1,631 vote majority.

He secured 26,819 votes against PKR's Kamarulzaman Kamdias (25,188) and PAS' Mustaffa Daharun (5,267).

There are some 95,700 voters in Jempol with Malays being the majority with 64%, Chinese (22%) and Indians (13%).