A total of 30 candidates have withdrawn their nominations for the Umno election to be held next month.

Kelantan Umno liaison committee chairperson Mustapa Mohamed said three of them withdrew their nominations for divisional head posts.

He said the candidates who withdrew comprised five in Machang, Ketereh (two), Tanah Merah (three), Bachok (five), Pengkalan Chepa (three), Gua Musang (five), Pasir Mas (three), Tanah Merah (one), Kota Bharu (two) and Kuala Krai (one).

NONE "The 30 are among 2,595 candidates who submitted their nominations for the Umno election," he told reporters after chairing the Kelantan Umno liaison committee meeting in Kota Bharu today.

Mustapa ( right ) said it was agreed at the meeting that Kelantan Umno would support all the 14 candidates contesting for the party's Supreme Council (MT) seats and the executive council posts in the three party wings.

Five of them are contesting the MT posts, namely Mustapa, Ketereh division leader Annuar Musa, Pasir Puteh divisional leader Zawawi Othman, Ketereh deputy division leader Md Alwi Che Ahmad and former Rantau Panjang division head Mohd Zain Ismail.

Mustapa advised candidates to be courteous in their campaign and to reject money politics.

"We do not want the contest to create a rift among us, making the party smaller. What we want is to strengthen the party," he added.

Three leaders suspended

Meanwhile, Kelantan Umno liaison secretary Noor Zahidi Omar said the membership of three Kelantan Umno members has been suspended by the party's disciplinary board, effective last Aug 23.

With their membership suspended, they are now ineligible to vote, contest and be appointed for any post in the party, he told reporters today.

He said the members are Pengkalan Chepa Umno division leader Dali

Hussin, Kubang Kerian Umno division leader Mohd Fauzi Ismail and Kubang Kerian Umno committee member Wan Nazli Wan Nawang.

"We received a letter from the party's disciplinary board today to inform us on its decision to the appeals made by the members concerned against their suspension," he added.

- Bernama