Only a few left for Umno, says Kelantan Bersatu chief

Kamaruddin Nor says the defections resolve an internal dispute and will not affect support for Perikatan Nasional in the coming by-election.

(FMT) – The defection of Bersatu members to Umno has resolved internal issues within Bersatu’s Gua Musang division, says Kelantan Bersatu chief Kamaruddin Nor.

Kamaruddin said reports of 480 Bersatu members joining Umno were exaggerated. He said only a few members left the party, including Che Ariffin Hussin, the former deputy chief of Bersatu’s Gua Musang division.

“There were complaints about Che Ariffin and his associates colluding with Gua Musang MP Azizi Abu Naim, who was expelled from Bersatu. They were awaiting disciplinary action.

“Their decision to join Umno resolves Bersatu Gua Musang’s internal problems. It is better for them to switch parties than remain disruptive,” Kamaruddin told FMT.

He said Bersatu’s Gua Musang committee had been suspended for several months, and an interim committee is in place, led by Paloh assemblyman Shaari Mat Hussain.

He also said the defections would not affect support for Perikatan Nasional in the campaign for the Nenggiri by-election, as most of those joining Umno are not Nenggiri voters.

Earlier today, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirmed receiving membership applications from 480 Bersatu members in the Nenggiri state constituency and welcomed their entry into the party.

Che Ariffin said all 12 Bersatu branches in Nenggiri are now inactive following the mass departure.

The Bersatu exodus was announced after candidates for Barisan Nasional and PN filed their papers to contest the Nenggiri by-election on Aug 17.

The BN candidate is Gua Musang Umno Youth chief Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, while PN named Rizwadi Ismail, who recently joined Bersatu from PAS.