KUALA LUMPUR: Kelantan Puteri Umno has hit out at several party leaders for leaving the ‘battlefield’ with the party struggling to rebuild itself.
Its Information chief Nurul Najihah Yasim, in a statement, said these leaders have chosen to abandon the party even as many young people have begun to draw closer to Umno.
“Where are all the battle cries that were instilled in us to continue fighting for this party?
“Are they (the leaders) not willing to face this testing time together with us?” she said.
On Tuesday, Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, better known as Tok Pa, quit Umno after spending more than 40 years in the party.
In a statement, Mustapa said Umno’s direction and his political principles are no longer aligned, hence his decision to quit the party.
He was also unconvinced that Umno’s rejuvenation process has begun.
On Mustapa’s decision to leave the party, Najihah said she and Kelantan Puteri Umno were disappointed over the ‘weak’ spirit shown by the Jeli MP.
“He is a highly respected leader among the people in Kelantan. Therefore, for whatever reason that he gave for quitting Umno, we cannot accept it.”
Najihah said although many more Umno leaders may leave the party, Kelantan Puteri Umno members will never leave the ‘battlefield’.
“Puteri Umno fighters must stay strong. Let those who decided to leave, leave.
“We must hold on tightly and continue to fight to ensure our rights will be preserved.”
Other than Mustapa, others who have left included Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, former Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, and Bagan Serai MP Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.