'I'm loyal to Umno': Ex-Jempol MP appeals to lift suspension

Summary

• Former Umno MP Salim Sharif hopes his loyalty to the party since his six-year suspension will lead to his reinstatement.

• Salim has appealed his suspension twice and states he never considered leaving Umno despite talks he would join another party.

• Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi confirms only two formal appeals were received, from Salim and former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, whose membership has already been reinstated.

A former Umno MP has expressed hope that his loyalty shown since being hit with a six-year suspension will result in the party’s supreme council, set to meet tonight, deciding to reinstate his membership.

According to The Star, former Jempol MP Salim Sharif said he had in April followed up on his first appeal, which was submitted last year.

“I sincerely hope the party leadership will consider my appeals.

“Although I have been suspended, I have remained loyal to Umno and have been actively supporting members, especially in Jempol,” he reportedly said.

Salim also said he had never once considered quitting the party ever since he was suspended.

“Umno has been my party from day one.

“Although there had been lots of talk previously that I would quit the party and join another, I have proven my loyalty to Umno,” he was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly confirmed that the party’s supreme council has so far only received two formal appeals, one from Salim and the other from former Pasir Salak MP Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, whose membership has been reinstated.

Umno’s supreme council had, on Nov 24 last year, unanimously decided to lift Tajuddin’s suspension, reinstating him as a member, effective immediately.

Zahid’s latest remarks follow fresh calls from the Sembrong Umno division for party top leaders to consider reinstating the membership of former Sembrong MP Hishammuddin Hussein, who has also been suspended since January 2023 for breaching party discipline.

Unlike Salim and Tajuddin, Zahid previously said Hishammuddin, a former Umno vice-president, had yet to submit any appeal or apology over the matter.

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