KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 — Umno has expelled three former ministers from the party for supporting the Opposition in the general election, said Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor.
The Umno secretary-general said he has instructed the party to formally notify Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, Tan Sri Rais Yatim and Tun Daim Zainuddin via writing of their automatic sackings for violating party ethics and its constitution.
“They are veterans and have been with us for a long time. They should know better,” he said in a video posted online.
“What saddens me is that when they were with us, we always supported them. And it’s not like they didn’t have problems.”
The Umno leader commonly called Ku Nan expressed exasperation at the trio’s attacks against the party, saying he did not know what they truly wanted.
All three have spoken out against Umno and Barisan Nasional, with Daim and Rafidah actively campaigning for Pakatan Harapan in the election together with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Rais and Daim are known loyalists of Dr Mahathir, while Rafidah had a falling out with the ex-prime minister following his retirement.
Ku Nan today suggested that the former leaders were envious of the new generation’s success, and did not want to be eclipsed.
He added that he did not take the decision lightly and only ordered the expulsions after personally confirming their violations.
“They already knew (this was coming) and they likely wanted to be sacked,” Ku Nan added.
“They will also make all manner of claims now, such as not needing Umno anymore. But let me remind them that without Umno, they would not be what they are.”
