PETALING JAYA: Fielding a candidate for the Padang Besar seat who was not chosen by the local Umno division goes against the party constitution, claims sacked member Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.
The incumbent Padang Besar MP, who was dropped as a candidate and is contesting as an Independent, said he was rebelling against what he alleged to be "an unconstitutional decision".
"I decided to stand as an Independent in Padang Besar as I want to prove to Ahmad Zahid that he has made a grave mistake by not abiding by the party constitution and placing a candidate from the list of Padang Arau Umno's choices.
"Ahmad Zahid had ignored all the five choices of candidates who are locals from the Padang Besar Umno division.
"Instead, he parachuted a non-local candidate to contest," said Zahidi.
"I did not join any rival party as some had done as my love for Umno is very deep," he added.
Earlier on Monday (Nov 7), Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan issued a statement stating that the party had decided to terminate the membership of those standing as candidates for rival parties or as Independents.
The other three, besides Zahidi, are Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib and Datuk Azhar Ahmad who are defending the parliamentary seats of Arau and Maran, and the state seat of Titi Tinggi.
