Ismail’s chances of joining PPBM not good at all.
Tambun Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kassim’s announcement of leaving Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) caught everyone in the state by surprise.
Ismail, who is the younger brother of Perlis Umno chief Shahidan Kassim, quit Umno and BN on June 19, citing a loss of confidence in its leaders.
However, Perlis PPBM chief Amier Hassan said his party was not keen on accepting former Umno members such as Ismail, who is reportedly looking to join the Pakatan Harapan (PH).
He said PPBM did not need any former leaders from Umno, adding that Ismail needs to look at his own capabilities before even wanting to join the party.
“This party is strong enough in terms of state leadership, even though (Pakatan Harapan) lost in Perlis, as the majority in each constituency was not that big. So, we don’t need any leader from Umno to join us.”
Amier said Ismail’s wish to join PPBM showed that he did not have a firm stand of his own, nor did he have any loyalty.
“He has come out to say that he has lost faith in the Umno leadership. If he really wanted to talk about the party’s struggles, then he should have said something before the 14th General Election.
“Only now, when (BN) has lost (the general election) does he speak up, so I don’t want to touch on it, in case he has a personal agenda which drove him to make this decision (to leave Umno and BN),” he said.
Amier said PPBM had many leaders who were better than Ismail, so there was no room for him in the party
He said while PPBM accepted regular folk and select Umno members, it did not want to import former Umno leaders for fear that they would taint the party.
Amier, who is also Perlis PH chief, said Ismail’s move might also spur other Umno leaders to join PPBM in order to “save their skins” as they had been left powerless after the May 9 election.
“These Umno leaders were living like kings, and now have resorted to living like paupers. Of course, they will find ways to continue living in the old ways,” he said.
Ismail’s departure from Umno has left the party with nine members in the 15-member state assembly, down from the previous 10.
This is one short of the number needed for a two-thirds’ majority at the assembly.
Meanwhile, Shahidan said he was in the dark over his brother Ismail’s decision to leave Umno after 40 years with the party and becoming an independent candidate.
“I do not know. Nobody told me anything. He did not contact me or convey anything to me.
“I did not receive any resignation letter from him,” he said.
The Arau MP said he was currently undergoing treatment in hospital and was dependent on others and the media for news.
“Whatever I hear is from what people are communicating to me. Whatever I know is what I have read from the media,” he said.
Azizan Sulaiman, a senior state exco member and Santan assemblyman stressed that it was business as usual in Perlis.
“But I find such reports to be fishy. It may be fake news as I have yet to receive word from Ismail. I doubt the authenticity.”
If it is nonetheless true, Azizan said that BN can carry on to administer the state.
“We have still nine assemblymen. A simple majority to get things done.”