Former deputy minister Shariff Omar, Umno members join PKR
Meena Lakshana, fz.com
Sacked Umno member and former Agriculture Agro-based Industry deputy minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Shariff Omar and five other Umno members have now joined PKR.
The announcement was made at a ceramah at the Kajang stadium last night attended by PKR de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah, vice-president Tian Chua, PAS election campaign director Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli and DAP stalwart Lim Guan Eng.
“I came all the way from Penang to pledge my support for Pakatan Rakyat. I feel it is a calling and I call you to support Datuk Seri Wan Azizah,” he told the crowd.
“Penang has long rejected Umno. MCA, MIC and Gerakan did not even win one seat,” he added.
Mohamad Shariff was sacked with immediate effect for contesting as an independent candidate in the Tasek Gelugor parliamentary seat prior to the 13th general election.
Mohamad Shariff, 66, was the BN’s Tasek Gelugor MP before he was dropped in 2008 in favour of Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
He was Penang deputy chief minister from 1995 to 1999.
The other five are the Youth division chief for Section 8 Bandar Baru Bangi, Youth division chief for Taman Sri Minang and three other Umno members who are aligned with Malay-rights wing group Pekida.
‘BN no longer relevant’
When met later, Mohamad Shariff shied away from explaining the reasons for joining PKR at this juncture.
He only maintained that he was no longer an Umno member and could join any party now.
“BN is no longer relevant,” he said. Asked if he knew more Umno members who are eager to join the Opposition, Mohamad Shariff replied: “There are some especially in the rural areas.
“They are not happy with Umno but they do not dare to come forward,” he added.
Anwar, meanwhile, said the entry of Mohamad Shariff and five others into the party would not affect the credibility of PKR.
“No, they are just members, we are not giving them any positions in the party,” he said.
On the timing of the membership, Anwar said they had made their intentions known to PKR only two weeks ago.
“I was speaking at one of the kampungs here and they approached me, asking to join the party and I said why don’t you speak to Chegubard (Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin),” he added.
