ALOR STAR: Alor Star Umno division chief Datuk Yusof Ismail said the sacking and suspension of several prominent party leaders reflected Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's 'iron fist' leadership of the party.
Describing the "cleansing of the party' of dissenters as irrational, Yusof cautioned that such a move would be detrimental and cost Umno the upcoming state election.
The party, he said, started losing its 'special appeal' when the Umno Supreme Council last night decided to sack former Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin and suspend the membership of the party's former information chief Shahril Hamdan.
"Perikatan Nasional (PN) is poised to retain control over Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
"Following the recent developments in the party, it is likely that PN will secure Selangor.
"Negri Sembilan also appears to be a likely win for PN," he said when contacted today.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan last night announced that Khairy and former Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar had been sacked for violating the party's Constitution in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Ahmad also announced the suspension of Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Shahril, ex-Jempol MP Salim Sharif, and Tebrau Umno leader Maulizan Bujang from the party for six years.
Yusof also questioned the party president when he claimed those sacked or suspended from the party were not given clear reason and that the disciplinary action was executed without following due process.
"There is a system that is spelled out in the (Umno) constitution. If there is any misconduct among Umno members, they should be brought before the disciplinary committee.
"That is the case of Tan Sri Noh Omar, who was sacked from the party three days before he was supposed to appear before Umno Disciplinary Board on Jan 30.
"This is unfair to him (Noh)," said Yusof.
He said Umno should instead focus on ways to strengthen the party following its disappointing performance in GE15, which ended on Nov 19 last year with the party only winning 26 parliamentary seats.
"It is crucial that we discuss ways to improve the party and attract young voters. People like Khairy and Shahril have a special appeal, in which, they could attract new members to the party.
"However, the sacking and suspension of these people is putting the party in such sad state and raises questions about the true intentions of the president (Zahid)," he said.