Purge driving youth away from Umno - Ismail Sabri

SHAH ALAM - The sacking of party leaders without due legal process was one of the factors impacting Umno's support among the youth, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

In a Fireside Chat with Sinar Daily, Umno vice-president Ismail said the party might have been sending the wrong signals to young voters with the recent 'cleanse'.

"Young voters have different idealism than the older voters. They talk about freedom of speech, expression, human rights and the right to choose leaders, which Umno does not seem to portray in the recent sacking and suspension," the former prime minister said.

"We are seen as a party without freedom, does not respect human rights, therefore those whom we lost in the 15th General Election (GE15) will not return and those who were warming up to us may end up no longer supporting us anymore," he added.

Umno announced the suspension and sacking of a number of its members on Jan 27.

Former Umno Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and former Selangor Umno liaison committee chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar were sacked, while Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein was 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 executive councillor Maulizan Bujang.

The decision was announced after Umno’s supreme council meeting last night following Khairy’s previous allegations that there were dirty tactics to ensure that Umno’s two top positions were not contested at the recent general assembly (PAU).

It is alleged that the disciplinary action was taken against the Umno leaders was linked to efforts to sabotage the party in the general election.