Don't use me as scapegoat says Jalil

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Dec 1 - Permatang Pauh Umno chief Datuk Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid has urged Seberang Jaya state assemblyman Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah not to use him and the division as a scapegoat or reason for joining the opposition.

"He can leave if he wants to but don't put the blame on us," he said when commenting a statement by Arif Shah that he had been sidelined by the division, despite being the only Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate to win in Permatang Pauh during the March general election.

Jalil who recently defeated Arif Shah in the contest for the Permatang Pauh chief post said he had no quarrels with Arif Shah.
He said the new committee was taking steps to strengthen the party by weeding out members who supported the opposition during the general election and the Permatang Pauh by-election in Aug.

Arif Shah was quoted by newspapers as saying that he was disappointed with Jalil and the Permatang Pauh division for ignoring him and that he had been invited by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to join the party.
"There is no problem. The division is working as a team for the future of the party and Permatang Pauh. We are one happy family," said Jalil.

Permatang Pauh Umno information chief Ahmad Sahar Shuib said Arif Shah should respect the delegates decision to retain Jalil as division chief.

"We did not sideline him. He has to fit in with the new line-up," he said. - Bernama