Ge14: UMNO members standing as independent candidates will lose membership





PUTRAJAYA, April 24 (Bernama) -- UMNO members contesting in the 14th General Election as independent candidate will immediately lose their party membership, said UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

In issuing the warning, Tengku Adnan who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general urged those who were not selected as the coalition's candidate against being too emotional and to understand the UMNO Constitution and concept of ‘wala´and 'tabayyun´ practised by the party.

"We discuss and exchange views before deciding on the candidate that we want. That is the concept that we usually promote, that is wala´and tabayyun.

"Wala' that is obeying what our leader has decided and tabayyun by ensuring together that the decision of the leader can be implemented, " he said when commenting on talks that the Director-General of the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi would contest as an independent candidate after not being listed as a BN candidate in GE14.

He disclosed this to reporters after distributing 9,000 PutraPay cards to students, the handicapped (OKU) and senior citizens at Putrajaya Sentral here today, which enabled them to board the bus, Nadiputra free of charge on any of the bus routes for a period of one year.

Tengku Adnan said he had also written letters to all leaders of the BN component parties three weeks ago on the issue of sabotage within the component parties on the candidates nominated.

"We are monitoring every area throughout the country. The party will certainly take action on any trouble-maker, "he said.

He also drew attention to the rumour about the plan to sabotage the BN candidates in the Parliamentary constituencies of Wangsa Maju, Datuk Seri Yeow Teing Look (MCA) and Bandar Tun Razak, Adnan Abu Seman (UMNO).

"In Wangsa Maju, we are studying the situation and probably the State Liaison Body will take over all functions in the division as we hear talks that there are elements intending to sabotage the MCA candidate representing the BN.

"Similarly in Bandar Tun Razak, I have discussed with the MCA, we hear that there are elements in the MCA planning to sabotage the UMNO candidate contesting in the constituency. We will take action," he added.

-- BERNAMA