BUTTERWORTH, Oct 4 — Former Penang deputy chief minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah has decided to contest the Nibong Tebal Umno division chief post as he was found not guilty by the disciplinary board on charges of party sabotage.

Hence, the Nibong Tebal Umno division chief post will be a straight fight between Abdul Rashid and Penang Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Zainal Abidin Osman.

Speaking to reporters here, Abdul Rashid said he decided to enter the fray after he was cleared of sabotaging the party during the 13^th general election by the disciplinary board.

On Sept 21, the State Umno Liaison Committee rejected Rashid’s nominations along with six other candidates on the ground that they were under suspension and facing sabotage charges.

The verdict that Abdul Rashid was not guilty of the charges was announced by State Umno Liaison Committee secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir on Tuesday. 

Apart from Abdul Rashid, three other members from the Nibong Tebal Umno division, namely Zulkifli Kamarudin (information chief), Mohd Sani Bakar (Sungai Baung branch chief) and Mohd Yusof Abdul Rahman (Kepala Gajah branch chief) were also found not guilty and their rights as Umno members were restored. — Bernama