Bersatu sacks Jerlun chief

PETALING JAYA: Jerlun Bersatu chief Abdul Ramli has been sacked from the party for contesting as an Independent for the Kota Siputeh seat.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said that by doing so, Abdul’s membership was immediately stripped for violating Clause 10.2.4 of the party constitution.

“Bersatu takes the issue of disciplinary violations seriously and will act decisively against anyone who tries to sabotage Perikatan Nasional candidates in the state elections,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Hamzah added that the party will not hesitate to act against any members who breach party rules.

He said Bersatu had previously dismissed a party member from the Hulu Selangor division and suspended the membership of another two for three years, for sabotage during the election campaign.

He also called on party members and the Bersatu election machinery to focus on ensuring the victory of Perikatan candidates in the state polls.

“With five days left to campaign, we must work to ensure victory for all Perikatan candidates, whether they are contesting under the Perikatan or PAS symbol.

“A win would be a referendum of the people’s rejection of the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government,” Hamzah added.

News reports quoted Abdul as saying that he was prepared to be sacked for standing as an Independent candidate.

He was reported to have said that he did so in protest of Perikatan’s decision to field Bersatu youth information chief Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir for the Kota Siputeh seat.

Abdul is in a three-cornered fight against Perikatan’s Mohd Ashraf and Pakatan’s Dr Salmee Said, who is defending the seat.