GEORGE TOWN, Sept 26 — Seven Penang Umno candidates had their memberships suspended and were disqualified from contesting the party elections next month over claims they were guilty of sabotage during the May 5 national polls.
The seven includes former Penang Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Abdul Rashid Abdullah and former Sungai Dua assemblyman Datuk Jasmin Mohamed.
Penang Umno secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir announced this today at a press conference while giving updates on the number of candidates contesting during the party elections.
Abdul Rashid had submitted his nomination to contest for the Nibong Tebal division chief post while Jasmin was contesting for the Tasek Gelugor division chief.
Both were not chosen as candidates for the general election.
Musa said a total of 1,924 candidates will be contesting in the party elections but the final number of candidates will only be confirmed after background checks related to criminal records and bankruptcy are completed.
“We will announce the finalised list by Oct 7,” he told a press conference at the Penang Umno headquarters at Menara Umno here.
Other than this, Musa revealed that 32 candidates who had submitted their nomination forms last Saturday had withdrawn from contesting.
After nominations closed last Saturday, five divisions were won uncontested, namely Balik Pulau, Bukit Gelugor, Nibong Tebal, Tanjung and Bukit Mertajam.
Three divisions – Permatang Pau, Jelutong and Bukit Bendera – will see four-corner fights for the chief posts while the Bagan division will see a three-corner fight.
Kepala Batas, Tasek Gelugor, Bayan Baru and Batu Kawan divisions are all straight fights for the top post.
