Johan to be sacked from Umno Youth

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA KUBU BARU, April 17 — Hulu Selangor independent candidate Johan Md Diah (picture), a Shah Alam Umno Youth committee member, will be sacked from the party.
Umno executive secretary Datuk Abdul Rauf Yusoh confirmed that Johan will automatically lose his membership for contesting the by-election.
“Confirm, sack,” Abdul Rauf told The Malaysian Insider.
Johan, from Felda Sungai Tengi here, is one of the two independent candidates in the April 25 by-election. He announced his candidacy in the Felda settlement last week, vowing to fight for the interest of the settlers.
The other independent is former Hulu Selangor MIC deputy chief V.S. Chandran.
“That is usually the practice, even supporting a non-Umno candidate will lead to sacking,” said Umno Youth executive committee member Hishamuddin Yahya.
Johan, when met after nomination, said he was fully aware of the action against him, adding that he had to contest to fight for Malay interest.
“I’m aware of the constitutional provision, so as of today I’m no longer a member,” said Johan.
He dismissed the suggestion that he contested because of his disappointment with Umno.
“Why should I feel frustrated, I’m doing this for the Malays,” said Johan, an Umno member for 10 years.
“I will talk more of my campaign message when I meet the voters,” he told reporters when asked about his manifesto.
The Hulu Selangor by-election will see a four-cornered among Johan, Chandran Barisan Nasional’s (BN) P. Kamalanathan and PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.
The rural federal seat was made vacant following the death of Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad from PKR late last month.
Zainal Abidin won the seat in Election 2008 by defeating MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel by a narrow 198-vote margin.