Penang Gerakan chairperson Dr Teng Hock Nan has urged Umno and Barisan Nasional not to accept Kulim Bandar Baharu MP Zulkifli Noordin into its fold.

"Zulkifli is perceived as a religious extremist and a racist. He was sacked by PKR for his unwillingness to subscribe to multi-racialism.

teng hock nan "Accepting him into Umno and BN will not augur well for the coalition which serves the interest of all Malaysians," Teng ( left ) said in a statement today.

Zulkifli was sacked by PKR last Saturday over disciplinary issues and he has since declared himself as an independent.

Following this, Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin said Umno's door was open to anyone, including Zulkifli, should he need a new party.

Teng said Gerakan was "perturbed" by Muhyiddin's statement and urged the Umno and BN leadership to reject religious extremist and racists.

"BN in general, and Umno in particular, should not accept religious extremists and racists into its fold," he said.

bar council islamic forum controversy inccident 090808 02 Teng cited Zulkifli's participation in the demonstration which led to the disruption of a public forum to discuss religious conversions in August 2008 as an example of why BN cannot accept him.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin reportedly said Umno would accept former PKR MPs should they wish to join Umno, but said they would not be invited to do so.

This was because Umno did not wanted to be accused of poaching MPs from other parties.