Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar's decision not to seek re-election at the party's annual general meeting next month shows that the party is no longer relevant, said Umno leaders today.

Umno's Rompin branch leader Jamaluddin Jarjis said that the people, especially the intellects, have rejected Keadilan's 'narrow-minded' politics.

"Chandra has to do what he has to do. It is time for him to take a graceful bow," said Jamaluddin, who is the president of the Backbenchers' Club in Parliament.

Yesterday, Chandra said he will not seek re-election at the party's AGM next month. He is stepping down to concentrate on working with international intellectual and non-government organisations.

He said he has informed party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, supreme council members and division heads of his decision in a letter dated Aug 24.

He added that he had also informed the party's adviser, ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently serving a 15-year jail term for sodomy and corruption.

Chandra won the deputy president post uncontested in the party's first election in 1999.

Lost credibility

Umno Larut (Perak) branch leader Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Hj Omar claimed that Chandra has attained 'enlightenment' and decided Keadilan politics was not as he had envisioned it to be.

Raja Ahmad said the party has lost its credibility especially after the DAP's shocking departure from the Barisan Alternatif last month.

"With Chandra not contesting, this shows that intellectuals have other options and have decided not to get involved with situations that will not help their self-interest," said the Larut member of Parliament.

"The factional problems in Keadilan also led to many feeling side-lined and marginalised. Perhaps Chandra felt this way," he added.

Tambun (Perak) branch leader Husni Hanadzlah said Chandra's decline to re-contest in Keadilan's election and wish to spent more time in NGO activities meant that the party was no longer important to him.

Husni said Chandra is an academic and may not find much scope to expand in a 'small' opposition party like Keadilan.

He said many in the opposition party may also have been demoralised by the party's recent loss in Sarawak's eighth state election.

"The party is beset with leadership as well as credibility problems," he told malaysiakini .