PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today said she found it strange for the party's former youth chief Ezam Mohd Nor to re-join Umno.

black 14 questioning 160408 wan azizah "I think it's strange (for him) to join the very institution he has been critical of. (But) this is his choice. After all he has done for the party (PKR), after going to prison, he chooses to go back to them," she said when asked to comment on reports of Ezam's imminent return to Umno.

She also dismissed claims that Ezam's departure would cost PKR a great deal. She said that the party has other members to lead and sustain the party.

"We still consider him a friend but we cannot wish him good luck because then it would be bad luck for us," quipped PKR information chief and Batu parliamentarian Tian Chua.

"This doesn't come as a blow because Ezam does not hold any position but I just regret that he made such personal choice," he said.

Not a brilliant decision

ezam mohd noor 220507 Ezam, a founding member of PKR, left the party last year after a fallout with Anwar Ibrahim and party vice president Azmin Ali.

Since then he had headed a corruption watchdog Gerak. However reports started emerging strongly that he would be going back to Umno by the end of this month.

Ezam has not responded to these reports, telling Malaysiakini that he would be issuing a statement next week.

Tian Chua also noted that Ezam's contributions to PKR's struggle and course were still valuable.

"I think he has sacrificed for our struggle and he has made very critical stand in the past striving for change.

"But when change has been recognized and accepted by the people it's odd to go against the trend - to join the forces with the people we have been fighting against," he said.

"This is something I don't understand and I don't think it's a brilliant decision," he added.

From new politics to old politics

A PKR youth leader and formerly a founding director of Gerak, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff, expressed ambivalence regarding Ezam.

On the one hand, said the Balik Pulau member of Parliament, the news did not come as a surprise as Ezam had previously spoken of returning to Umno.

"He was always thinking of how to go back. I guess it doesn't come as much of a shock, especially at this time when Umno is undergoing a serious crisis," Yusmadi said.

It was, nonetheless, disappointing considering Ezam had also spoken of the need for a "new politics" in Malaysia but was now returning to the "old politics" of Umno.

"Ezam was supposed to bring the new hope of the youth to Malaysian politics, not go back to the old Umno formula that will be proven to be irrelevant," he said.

"I wish him all the best," he added.

Nazri happy with the decision

smm meeting with nazri 110907 nazri abdul aziz Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz however was glad that his former trusted party colleague was returning.

He added that Ezam was one of his most trusted people when he was still in Umno.

"I entrusted him to prepare my speech and many other things and I was very sad when he left Umno," said Nazri

"I'm very pleased and happy to hear he has decided to join Umno again. Umno membership is for all, anyone qualified and wants to be member should be allowed to join," he said.

"I think Umno has reached the bottom and there's no other way but to move upwards now. Umno would have a better prospect in the future," said Nazri.

Mat Taib: We welcome him

Unity, Culture, Art and Heritage minister Shafie Apdal also chorused Nazri's approval of Ezam rejoining Umno but added that the ultimate decision was up to the prime minister.

"If this step is taken to strengthen the party then why not?" he asked.

Meanwhile, Umno information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib also received positively the reports of Ezam's entry into Umno, saying any move that would strengthen the party and thereby contribute towards the progress of the country was welcome.

"If he agrees with the policy of the party to strengthen the country, we welcome it," Muhammad told reporters when met in the lobby of Parliament

Ezam, 40, was a rising star in Umno when he followed Anwar out of Umno in 1998.

He was then Anwar's political secretary and had also gone to jail under the ISA and OSA.