Bendang Baru Umno branch Youth chief Akhramsyah Sanusi has resigned from his post, in a move to show his commitment to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s new party.

Akhramsyah is the son of former Kedah menteri besar and former Umno secretary-general Sanusi Junid.

This came after the New Straits Times quoted him as saying that he has no plans to leave Umno despite his involvement in Mahathir’s party. However, Akhramsyah said his comments were misconstrued.

“This report gives an erroneous impression, and omitted key elements of my statement.

"I had at the same time mentioned that it would be hypocritical for me to remain in Umno once I was involved in the new party, and that I was still awaiting advice on actions to be taken prior to the submission of the application to form the new party, to the Registrar of Societies (ROS).

“The omission of these statements has obviously been misconstrued; hence, I am stating here my full commitment to the formation of the new party, and, to remove further doubt, have submitted my resignation to my Bendang Baru branch and Langkawi division, effective immediately,” he said in a statement today.

Akhramsyah is a pro tem committee member in Mahathir’s upcoming party. Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin is to submit forms for the new party to the ROS tomorrow.

Mahathir is slated to be the party chairperson, while Muhyiddin will be the president.

Earlier today, the NST’s online edition quoted Akramsyah as saying that he has no immediate plans nor the desire to leave Umno, as doing so would amount to abdicating his duties as an office-bearer in the party.

“I have neither any immediate plans nor the desire to leave Umno, although I am involved in the setting up of the new party.

“There are meetings to chair (at the Umno Bendang Baru branch) ahead of the Umno general assembly. I still have a responsibility as the Bendang Baru branch Youth chief,” he was reported as saying.

He also reportedly told the daily that it was important for him to have a platform for these political activities, as the new party had yet to be being formed.

As of the time of writing, the NST report has been removed from the website, although a link to the non-existent article is still displayed on NST’s Facebook page.