No Kedah Umno 'warlord' will join PN - Mahdzir

There are no Kedah Umno “warlords” or top leaders who will leave to join Perikatan Nasional (PN) ahead of the upcoming state polls, according to Kedah Umno chief Mahdzir Khalid.

He said any such claims surrounding purported departures of state Umno leaders are just PN’s “propaganda”.

“As for now, none from Kedah... I think in any organisation or party there will be a ‘season’ of departures among those who have taken action and then moved on.

“Not just from Umno to another party, there are also those from other parties who joined Umno,” said the former Kedah menteri besar.

“For example, former PAS Ulama secretary Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali who is now in the Umno Ulama Council,” said Mahdzir (above) during a press conference in Alor Setar, Kedah, today.

On June 12, PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the coalition will announce the names of up to 10 Umno ‘warlords’ who were sidelined and supposedly will be switching sides soon.

So far, only former BN secretary-general Annuar Musa has formally joined PAS as a platform to further his political career after being sidelined by Umno.

Former Selangor Umno chief Noh Omar has yet to make any similar announcement but was seen campaigning for PN.

Despite meetings with PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has also remained mum over his next move since being sacked from the party.

Candidate selection ongoing

Meanwhile, Mahdzir said Kedah Umno discussed running various targeted activities in the run-up to the state election expected sometime next month.

“We must take into account all groups. What is best for youths, paddy farmers, fishermen, rubber tappers, and others?

“We see what are the suitable programmes in their areas because there are also multi-racial areas that we should consider,” he said.

On Kedah Umno’s candidates, Mahdzir said the selection process is ongoing and will be completed soon.

“Once it’s done, we will submit the candidates’ list to the Umno president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi). There will be new, old, and women candidates.

“The best candidates will be the ones chosen,” said the former Umno vice president.

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