Out Of Umno Former Kedah Exco 7 Division Leaders

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Former Kedah exco member Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid (centre, in white) with other Umno members announcing their exit from the party.GEORGE TOWN: A former Kedah executive councillor and several Umno division chiefs today announced they were leaving the party, dealing yet another blow to the former ruling party in the wake of the recent exodus of its MPs
Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid, who lost the Ayer Hangat state seat in Langkawi in the May general election, was joined by seven Umno division chiefs
Rawi today described Umno as a “sinking ship”
“It is like being a crew member on a 60-year-old ship. We are custodians of the cargo on the ship, which is the rakyat, but the vessel has become rotten and started to sink. At this point, I must protect the cargo on my ship,” he told a press conference at a hotel in Alor Setar
It is believed there are about 500 party members in the seven divisions
Rawi said it was useless for Umno members to remain in the party after its general election defeat
He claimed more in Kedah would leave Umno
In recent days, Umno has seen a steady outflow of its MPs. Last week, 10 MPs quit the party, in a blow to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Zahid has since handed over his presidential duties to his deputy Mohamad Hasan
Rawi, an Umno member for 28 years, said he had to do the “right thing” despite objections from family members
“I know many will support my move and at the same time I will anger some. But for the sake of fighting for the rights of Malays and Muslims, I am willing to do anything
“And if the party that supports Malays and Muslims like Umno has weakened and failed to meet its goals, then I think it is time for us to leave.” -FMT

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