Ibrahim Ali: In no hurry to return to Umno fold

Controversial Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali as yet to submit a formal application to re-join Umno, and is in no hurry to do it anytime soon.

Ibrahim, an independent,who stood under the PAS ticket last year, told Malaysiakini , he would have to rethink five to 100 times before rejoining Umno.

The maverick politician said Umno had in the past had mistreated him as when he was dropped from leading the Pasir Mas Umno division.

"I do not want "pisang berbuah dua kali atau lima hingga 100 kali" (my bitter experience to repeated twice or more). I was dropped as Umno division chief for no apparent reason."

"It is not that I wanted to be a candidate desperately...," he said.

On comments that he has applied to rejoin Umno, Ibrahim denied he had done so but was quick to add that he did not discount the possibility of it in the near future.

The Pasir Mas MP said on Oct 16, that he was keeping his options open on the possibility of rejoining Umno on condition that Umno makes changes as outlined by its leadership.

"If Umno is successful in translating the change demanded by its president and deputy president, I may consider re-joining Umno," he was quoted by Bernama .

He added that the appeal in the party's current leadership is its determination to safeguard Malay interests.

Ibrahim or affectionately known as "Tok Him" joined Umno in 1982. He switched loyalties when Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah formed Semangat 46 in 1988.

In 1991 he rejoined Umno and was made division chief. In 2004, he angered the party when he contested as an independent.

A lesson in loyalty

On Kelantan Umno Youth secretary Bazlan Baharuddin's call to the party's supreme council to consider carefully Ibrahim's readmission as loyalty was an issue, and who said,"It is no use if you are an Umno member but at the same time you are a traitor to those who contest under the party banner in a general election."

According to Bazlan all the dust being kicked up now could be due the fact that Ibrahim was not picked as a candidate or failed to secure certain projects.

"My advice to Bazlan, if you want to be a patriot to the Malay community, I could teach him a thing or two, for free," the Pasir Mas MP said.

Ibrahim, said Bazlan, should not make aimless statements.

Bazlan, was quoted by Bernama saying that Umno should not forget Ibrahim's decision to contest against Barisan Nasional in the 2005 by-election.

He said besides being in and out of Umno, Ibrahim again contested as an independent against BN in the last polls on a PAS ticket.

"Umno should rethink granting Ibrahim a membership just when it is focusing on efforts to restore itself. Umno is being accepted by the people and has a good chance of winning the next general election," said Bazlan.