Shahidan sacked as Perlis Umno chief

Umno today announced that Shahidan Kassim had been sacked as its party chief in Perlis, a little over a month after he threatened to break ranks with the central Umno leadership if it decided to cut ties with Bersatu.

In a statement signed by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, it also announced Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man as his replacement effective today.

Shahidan was among Umno leaders who had criticised the party’s central leadership for its decision to cut ties with Bersatu, the party led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

In an interview in March on MalaysiaNow’s current affairs programme Talk, Now, he said he would not be perturbed if action was taken against the state chapter should it break ranks with top leaders over the matter.

“Once Perlis Umno decides, if they want to expel us, let it be,” he had said.

Shahidan was also booed by delegates at the Umno general assembly on March 27 during his speech which was seen as out of sync with the views of the Supreme Council.

Shortly after, clips began making the rounds of party leaders stepping up their criticism of Zahid and his handling of the assembly where delegates had endorsed his call to cut ties with Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional.

In one such clip, Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob attacked Zahid over the way he had concluded the assembly.

“This recent general assembly is the worst. It’s the worst. The closing speech should have provided guidance to members on preparing for elections, as they go back to their respective states,” Ismail told a recent state-level Bangkit 15, a pre-election motivation event organised by Umno’s Training and Cadre Bureau which he chairs.

In January this year, Annuar Musa was also sacked from his position as Barisan Nasional secretary-general after being seen as out of line with Zahid.