ARAU: Tambun Tulang assemblyman Datuk Ismail Kassim, once named as menteri besar candidate by Perlis Barisan Nasional, has quit Umno last night.
The brother of Perlis BN chairman, Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said he decided to leave the party because he no longer has confidence in the party leadership.
"I officially quit Umno and BN to become an independent candidate.
"The decision was made based on several factors, one of them is that I have lost confidence in the party leadership.
Ismail claimed he had contemplated leaving the party since 2008 or during the 12th General Election.
"I have to think about what is best for the people and align with the federal government," he said, adding that he intends to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).
However, he said the announcement on the matter would be made soon.
"I am doing this without my brother's knowledge and I wish to state that I am not a puppet.
"I want to also prove that one can be siblings but have different views in terms of politics."
Ismail joined Umno about 30 years ago at the age of 28 and used to hold positions such as the state Umno Youth chief and Arau Umno Youth chief.
Perlis was caught in a crisis when nine assemblymen, including him, who were aligned to Shahidan, boycotted the swearing-in of Datuk Seri Azlan Man on May 24.
Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail had recenly said that he did not pick Ismail as menteri besar because he did not want a "puppet" controlled by others.