Complaint lodged against Shahidan over speech, Bersatu flag at Umno meet

The Umno Youth division in Arau has lodged a complaint against Shahidan Kassim, accusing him of breaching party discipline at a recent event by making a speech contrary to Umno’s stand and flying the Bersatu flag alongside the Malay party’s, among others.

In a letter to Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan dated Oct 18, Arau Umno Youth chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar said Shahidan had also distributed a draft proposal that went against the decision communicated to division and wing leaders at the group opening ceremony for the Arau Umno division the day before.

“This complaint is lodged to prevent the continuing confusion among members and leaders at all levels, especially in the Arau division in Perlis,” he said.

“For the sake of the good name and image of the party, and to prevent more serious splits in the future, it is my hope that this complaint receives the appropriate attention so that action can be taken,” he said.

MalaysiaNow reported earlier today that Shahidan was calling for cooperation between Umno-Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the Melaka state election next month, in yet another sign of open rebellion against party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He also said the Arau Umno division had unanimously agreed to work with Bersatu and PAS, which are in PN, in order to ensure victory in the Nov 20 polls.

Shahidan, who was sacked by Zahid as Perlis Umno chairman, said the party’s chances of winning the state polls would be slim if it decides to contest alone.

Zahid had earlier ruled out any cooperation with PAS or Bersatu in next month’s polls.

PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin meanwhile said political cooperation with Umno would be forged in the near future.

The Melaka state assembly was dissolved after Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali lost his majority backing following the move by four assemblymen to withdraw their support for him: Idris Haron (Sungai Udang), Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundor), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Noor Effandi Ahmad (Telok Mas).