BENTONG: Kampung Sum-Sum Umno member Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli has been stripped of his Umno membership effective today after contesting the Pelangai state seat by-election as an independent candidate.
Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Haslihelmy had been automatically dropped as a member for contesting as an independent.
"Since he (Haslihelmy) has decided to contest as an independant, his membership in Umno has been automatically revoked starting today," he told reporters when asked about the businessman's fate after he turned up at the Felda Kemasul community hall to file his nomination papers today.
It was reported yesterday that Haslihelmy was prepared to enter the race to contest the Pelangai state seat by-election as an independent candidate, despite facing the prospect of getting sacked from Umno. (https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2023/09/958307/umnos-haslihelmy-mul...).
He is a Kampung Sum-Sum Umno branch member in Janda Baik near here where former Pelangai assemblyman Datuk Seri Johari Harun, who died in an aircraft crash in Bandar Elmina, Shah Alam, on Aug 17, served as the Kampung Sum Sum Umno branch chairman.
The Pelangai state seat fell vacant following Johari's death.
Meanwhile, Haslihelmy said he had already anticipated Umno's decision to revoke his membership and was unperturbed by their decision.
Meanwhile, Zahid reminded BN members not to take the Pelangai by-election lightly and be too overconfident based on the 15th general election(GE15) results here.
"Johari secured a 4,000 majority during GE15 and Pakatan Harapan obtained some 2,000 votes, so on paper we have more than 6,000 votes. We cannot be too overconfident.... our opponent has set up its base here. We must deploy suitable approaches to secure voters' trust and gain their votes," he said.
Zahid urged voters to provide their backing for Barisan Nasional's candidate Datuk Amizar Abu Adam who is popular among the people in Pelangai and is the son of a Felda settler.
"Helping Amizar to win here will ensure the good deeds and services of Datuk Seri Jo (Johari) can be continued. I strongly believe Amizar will perform well to serve the people here.
"I am confident Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy (Pahang Umno liaison committee chairman) who has been picked to lead the Pelangai by-election will be able to ensure victory. The constituency requires some facilities and we will do our best to provide the improvements," he said.
The Pelangai state seat by-election on Oct 7 is set to be a three-cornered fight between Amizar, Haslihelmy and Kasim Samat from Perikatan Nasional.