Puad: Umno must take action against dissidents

Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must act against members who refused to abide by party decisions, including those who signed statutory declarations (SDs) backing Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s unsuccessful bid to become prime minister again, said Datuk Puad Zarkashi.

The supreme council member said the party must also deal with the five Sabah Barisan Nasional assemblymen – who are Umno members – for breaking ranks with the state party leadership.

He said Umno should not tolerate those who do not back the party and its decisions.

“As a party member, one must follow what the party has decided. What is the point of being with a party if one does not want to follow what the leadership says?” he told The Star.

On Monday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called out 10 MPs from Barisan Nasional, of which six are from Umno, who had signed SDs in support of Muhyiddin after the 15th General Election.

In the case of Sabah, there have been calls for action to be taken against Datuk Shahelmey Yahya (Tanjung Keramat), Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), Datuk Arshad Bistari (Tempasuk) and Datuk James Ratib (Sugut) for supporting Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and his leadership.

Shahelmy is now the Deputy Chief Minister III and Works Minister, taking over from Sabah Umno chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, while Ratib was made a full minister and given the Community Development and People’s Wellbeing portfolio.

Puad said the president had said that there would be pembersihan total (total cleansing) in Umno.

“In my opinion, this exercise should not just involve those who do not toe the line but also those who are ineffective in their work,” he added.