KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 ― Former Minister Tan Sri Rais Yatim said today he will campaign for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Pakatan Harapan, despite still being an Umno member.

Rais who was the Socio-Cultural Adviser to the Government said he will continue to bolster efforts for a clean transparent Election Commission.

“The EC is a body that has lost much of its sheen and public confidence. To me it makes no difference now in whatever Umno wants to do. In my view that party is already a non-entity following its own,” he told the Malay Mail when contacted.

Rais claimed that Umno had flouted Article 10.16 of the party constitution, which provides for party elections to be held every three years and in the event the election is not held, it allows an extension of a further 18 months.

“It has not held leadership election within the prescribed period. I view RoS giving the life extension as a farce. So their decision to ouster me is a no matter now,” he said, referring to the Registrar of Societies.

“The Umno of today doesn’t even recognise its own Article 3 of its constitution that spells Bersatu Bersetia Berkhidmat; it pays scant focus on Malay culture or heightened position of Bahasa Melayu,” he added.

Rais claimed Umno is no longer open to criticisms from within.

He thanked Datuk Seri Najib Razak for bearing with him and his ways while serving at the adviser’s position for the past five years.

Earlier today, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the party has sacked Tun Daim Zainuddin and Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz but it has not sacked Tan Sri Rais Yatim after they actively campaigned for the Opposition against BN.

He said, Rafidah and Daim were sacked after they  joined the campaigning of the opposition but Rais was not seen with them on the public platform but he has been active on the social media criticising the party.

“We will have to investigate if those post and comments on social media were indeed from Rais, we need to confirm that first,” Tengku Adnan said.