GE15: Shahidan and Ismail to be punished for their defiance, says Umno veep

ALOR SETAR: Two Umno leaders who have opted to run on Perikatan Nasional's ticket in the 15th General Election (GE15) may face disciplinary action soon.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (pic) said the decision by incumbent MPs Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim (Arau) and Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib (Maran) has clearly violated the party and Barisan Nasional constitutions.

"They ought to know that they are bound by the party constitution and rules," he told reporters after a Wayang Kulit Performance Programme organised by the Thai community at Padang Terap here on Thursday (Nov 3) night.

ALSO READ: The big fight in little Perlis

The incumbent Padang Terap MP said he regretted Shahidan and Ismail's defiance of the party by contesting under the Perikatan banner.

Shahidan, the Federal Territories Minister, was officially named by PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang during Perikatan's candidate announcement in Marang on Thursday.

There are three parliamentary constituencies in Perlis: Arau, Kangar and Padang Besar.

Shahidan first became Arau MP from 1986 to 1995.

ALSO READ: GE15: More Barisan leaders expected to join Perikatan, says Hadi

He went on to serve Umno in other portfolios and returned as its MP in 2013 until Parliament recently dissolved.

In GE14, he retained the seat with a 4,857-vote majority, defeating Datuk Dr Abd Rahman Daud (PKR) and Hashim Jasin (PAS).

Abdul Hadi also announced that Ismail would be defending his seat in Pahang under Perikatan.

Ismail, a four-term MP, won in Maran in 2018 with a 3,756-vote majority defeating Hasenan Haron of Bersatu and Ahmad Farid Ahmad Nordin of PAS.