The Guar Jering Jaya Umno branch in Penang has been dissolved today in protest over the BN leadership, which it referred to as GST.

However, this did not stand for goods and services tax but rather "geng suka tipu" (a deceitful lot).

Division chief Asri Ahamad, 44, announced this at the PKR operations centre.

Accompanying him was Seberang Jaya state assemblyperson and PKR national deputy chief Dr Afif Bahadin ( left ).

"The branch was established since 2006 but sidelined by the party leadership, and even left out from this Permatang Pauh by-election campaign," said Asri.

"So we decided to dissolve the branch after conducting a discussion with members," he added.

Asri, flanked by 10 branch members, also displayed a banner, which read, " Cawangan kami diabaikan (Our branch has been neglected)"," Kami bubar cawangan (We are dissolving the branch)", " Kami tolak BN (We reject BN)"," Rakyat jangan undi BN (People must not vote BN)"," BN parti hipokrit (BN is a hypocrite party)"and "GST= Geng Suka Tipu ".

He said they have lost confidence in the Permatang Pauh Umno division and central leadership.

"I am concerned about the well-being of our youths, hence I set up a new branch in 2006 and it comprised almost 85 percent young members.

"We need to take care of our young people; can you imagine what will happen if they are marginalised and neglected?" he added.

Asri also accused the Umno leadership of refusing to channel funds to the branch.

But later on, he was upset with the party leadership which obviously neglected the branch and refused to channel any allocation for its operation.

"Since they only know how to make empty promises, it is better for us to dissolve the branch," lamented the grassroots leader, who has been with Umno for three decades.

PKR’s Afif pointed out that Guar Jering is where BN candidate for the Permatang Pauh by-election, Suhaimi Sabudin, comes from.

He questioned if Suhaimi cannot protect his own Umno people, how would he safeguard the interests of Permatang Pauh voters?

In an immediate response, Penang Umno liaison chairperson Zainal Abidin said the Guar Jering Jaya branch committee had sent a letter to request for dissolution since last year.

"So it is not a new issue," he added.

He said the branch status and identities of those who claimed to be members are still pending confirmation.

He also warned that action would be taken against any members who campaigned for PKR.