BUTTERWORTH: Penang Umno challenged Datuk Shabudin Yahaya to step down as Tasek Gelugor member of parliament (MP) following his decision to leave the party yesterday.
State Umno chairman Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir said party members were disappointed by Shabudin’s decision.
“He contested under the ticket of Barisan Nasional (BN), not on his own capacity," Musa said, pointing out that the decision had also betrayed voters.
“So I challenge him to step down and make way for another candidate (to contest) in a by-election.
“Just because we (Barisan Nasional - BN) lost six, seven months ago, he has given up. Where are his words wanting to fight till the end?
“Good luck to Shabudin,” he said in a press conference, here, today.
Also present was state opposition leader and Tasek Gelugor division chief Muhamad Yusuff Mohd Noor.
Muhamad Yusuff said that Shabudin’s decision to leave the party came as a surprise as it was never mentioned or discussed at the party division level.
However, he said that the Tasek Gelugor division accepted Shabudin's decision.
“We will hold a series of tours to all the branches to explain the current situation of the party.
“If this tour is not done, it could impact Umno heavily in the future,” he said.
Yesterday NSTP reported that six Umno MPs had announced to leave the party.
They are, Hulu Terengganu MP Datuk Rosol Wahid, Mersing MP Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad, Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Sabak Bernam MP Datuk Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh,Tanah Merah MP Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz and Shabudin.
Resignation letters were submitted to Umno Secretary General Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
