PETALING JAYA: Isham Jalil will be officially informed of his status in Umno soon, says party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“He will receive a letter,” Ahmad Zahid said when met at the launch of the MyNext event and the exchange of MOUs at the Bukit Jalil stadium on Friday (Dec 8).
“At the soonest possible time,” added the Deputy Prime Minister, who did not deny speculation that Isham had been sacked from Umno.
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Isham said earlier he had yet to be officially informed of his sacking from Umno.
Several Umno supreme council members who attended its meeting on Wednesday night (Dec 6) confirmed that Isham had been sacked from the council and as a party member with immediate effect.
Ahmad Zahid said Umno celebrates differences in opinion, but its leaders should not be weakening the party.
“We want the young, whether from the Youth or Puteri wings, to continue contributing.
“We are also opening up our online membership application programme, and we have no issues accepting young leaders who have new DNA,” said Ahmad Zahid.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said that since 2018, Umno has seen many leaders undermining the party from within.
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“Therefore, the Umno leadership has some measures, such as a party training event, to carry out courses to foster the spirit of working as a team,” he added.
Speculation was rife leading up to Wednesday's supreme council that Isham would be sacked following his recent criticism of Umno’s decision to work with DAP.
Ahmad Zahid had said Isham should air his views in person at the supreme council meeting.
However, Isham said he would not attend as a sign of protest against Umno’s decision to work with DAP.
The supreme council meeting followed Umno's defeat in the Kemaman by-election on Saturday (Dec 2), which saw Perikatan Nasional winning with a 37,220-vote majority.
