KUALA TERENGGANU - Umno will be able to rise and unite now that the party is free from wolves in sheep’s’ clothing, Terengganu Umno liaison chief Datuk Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku says.
He believed Umno’s revival could be achieved after the massive cleansing against individuals who sabotaged the party and candidates in the 15th General Election (GE15) as announced by party’s president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"Umno will suffer if we continue letting them to stay, as they could disclose many things which would also affect the opposing parties.
"So, the path taken by Zahid is great bring back unity and revive Umno," he said when contacted by Sinar on Friday.
However, Nik Dir admitted Umno's internal cleansing process would indeed leave an impact.
"We admit that every dismissal has an impact and there is no denial that every top leaders, for example, has their own followers so if their boss are dismissed, they will also leave but not everyone is like that.
"There will be an effect to the party, but it would be minor, not up to the point that Umno will fall," he said.
Nik Dir added Umno remained strong despite changes in leaderships due to previous dismissal or quitting.
"Umno is Umno and I don't think it (Umno’s fall) will happen as Umno has several history of being abandoned by the leaders or they were removed.
"Tun Mahathir and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for example, were originally from Umno. Many more great leaders left the party, but the impact was small.
"In fact, what the president did this time is more about mending Umno and saving the party from enemies from within," he explained.
Yesterday, six members of Umno had either been sacked or suspended over alleged attempts to sabotage the party in the past general election.
Aside from Khairy, former Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar was also sacked, while Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had been suspended.
Among other members who have been suspended from the party for six years were former Umno Deputy Youth Chief Shahril Hamdan, Umno Youth Exco Fathul Bari Mat Jahya, former Jempol MP Salim Mohd Sharif and former Johor State Exco Maulizan Bujang.