You're Job is to be an UMNO Lackey in BN, Gerakan!!

Butt out, Selangor Umno tells Gerakan

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Umno has, in not so many words, told Gerakan to mind its own business on the possibility of maverick MP Zulkifili Noordin joining Umno.

Selangor Umno liaison chief Abdul Shukur Idrus said it was Umno’s prerogative to accept or reject applications from individuals wishing to join the party.

“If there is an application from an individual, it will be processed according to procedure. The supreme council will decide on its worth,” he said in a response to the Gerakan's urging yesterday that Umno reject Zulkifli.

Gerakan voiced concern over a statement by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that Umno's door "was always open to anyone wanting to become its members", including Zulkifli.

Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan urged Umno and the Barisan Nasional leadership not to accept Zulkifli, the MP for Kulim-Bandar Baharu, as a member.

He said Zulkifli was sacked by Party Keadilan Rakyat for his unwillingness to subscribe to multi-racialism.

"Accepting him into Umno and BN will not augur well for Barisan Nasional as a moderate and multi-racial coalition serving the interests of all Malaysians," Teng said in a statement.

Zulkifli was expelled from PKR last Saturday, and became an independent MP. He was also formerly a member of PAS, a partner in the three-party Pakatan Rakyat coalition, but PAS has closed its doors on his return.

Teng's statement marks the second time this week that Gerakan has broken ranks with Umno-BN. Also yesterday, its Youth wing in Kedah threw its support behind the reintroduction of local council elections, proposed by Penang's PR-led administration

Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said there were more benefits than setbacks to the suggestion, and urged the federal government to assist the PR in carrying out the local elections, such as by amending related legislation.