SHAH ALAM: Kota Raja Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has received applications from close to 10 Umno branches within the Sungai Kandis state constituency expressing intention to join them after the last general election (GE).
This development was seen as an advantage to PKR candidate in the upcoming Sungai Kandis by-election Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni.
Kota Raja Bersatu's youth chief Nadzri Abdullah said the intentions by these Umno branches were made known personally to him by several Umno division and youth leaders.
However, he explained that they would need to follow the procedure set by Bersatu leadership in accepting their membership.
Procedure must also be followed if they wished to convert an Umno branch into a Bersatu branch, Nadzri informed.
"We follow the process, either they must dissolve the branch first (Umno) or set up a new Bersatu branch. We are willing to help in setting up a sponsorship committee," he said.
Nadzri meanwhile admitted there had been a significant increase in requests from Umno members to join Bersatu after the 14th General Election.
"A majority of them are youths who used to support Umno. Some contact me personally, some represent certain (Umno) branches.
"Most of the applications are from the Sungai Kandis state constituency. Perhaps that is because the majority in this constituency are Malays," he said when met, here, today.
Nadzri who is also Bersatu youth exco member said since the middle of May, the number of new Bersatu members in Kota Raja, specifically Sungai Kandis, increased by some 40 to 50 percent compared to the number of members prior to GE14.
"Some admit to being Umno members, some don't have parties. But a majority who wanted to register (as members) are those who voted for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the last GE," he said, adding that he had informed them to adhere to the decisions and policies set by Bersatu.
"This includes those who registered after April, they will not be allowed to contest for any party posts for Bersatu's election this year," he informed.
Bersatu chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad previously stated that the party received many membership applications from Umno grassroots who wanted to set up a Bersatu branch in their areas.
However, Bersatu has put in place strict conditions, among them, they need to declare they have left Umno and pledge their commitment to Bersatu.
Meanwhile, a Kota Raja Umno division leader when contacted admitted that several Umno branches have become inactive after the GE, however denied that some branches had been dissolved.
The leader who declined to be named, explained that due to the inactivity of some of these branches, they had also failed to send representatives to the recent Umno division meeting.
"Yes.. there are branches that are not so active, especially after the GE. But Umno will continue to ensure these branches will come back to life," the leader said, however declined to comment if the situation has resulted in some people pledging support for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
According to the Umno constitution, any branches that fail to convene or conduct meetings cannot send representatives to attend division-level meetings and cannot vote in party elections.