RANTAU PANJANG: Kelantan Umno believes the decision by more than 100 PKR members in Lubok Gong to leave their party for Umno today stems from a lack of confidence in PKR‘s current leadership.
Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said he had left it to Rantau Panjang Umno division chief Datuk Akbar Salim to handle the matter.
Meanwhile, state Umno information chief Datuk Zawawi said there was nothing wrong with party members switching allegiances, as long as they remained within the unity government coalition.
He added that the move helped safeguard the Madani government from negative public perception, since the members did not join Perikatan Nasional (PN) or any other party, particularly those aligned with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Zawawi cited similar developments at the leadership level, noting the case of Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz leaving Umno to join PKR.
“This could become part of political culture and ethics, where party-hopping occurs within the same coalition rather than across opposing blocs. As long as they remain under the same umbrella, it should not be an issue,” he said.
Akbar said the move demonstrated that Umno is a party open to everyone.
“Their decision shows that their confidence in Umno is high and they believe in Umno’s cause,” he added.
It was reported today that more than 100 PKR members in the Lubok Gong subdistrict had announced their decision to quit the party, effective immediately, to join Umno.
Former Lubok Gong PKR branch head Ariffin Ismail, 63, said members who had joined PKR over the past two years were disappointed with the lack of rapport and cooperation between grassroots members and the division leadership.
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