Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has resigned as chairman of Umno’s advisory board, voicing disappointment with the current Cabinet line-up under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
In a letter to Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dated Sept 20, he said nearly all of the posts were filled by those from the previous “failed government” despite reservations from the public and the party grassroots.
“Of course the elected leaders and members of the government who replaced the ‘failed’ administration received the blessing of the Umno leadership,” he added.
“Can they help our party redeem our defeat in the 15th general election and end the hung parliament? Can we rely on them to give our party victory in GE15?”
Thanking Zahid for allowing him to play a role in Umno’s journey, he nonetheless said that his resignation from his “unconstitutional” position would take effect immediately.
In July, Tengku Razaleigh requested a change to his sitting position in the Dewan Rakyat, from the government bench to a seat nearer in the independent bloc.
He said he did not wish to sit with the government representatives as he had never agreed to back the Perikatan Nasional administration.
“I do not wish to continue sitting in the seat that has been provided for me in the Dewan Rakyat as though I have become a supporter of the current government,” he said in the statement addressed to speaker Azhar Harun.