Umno’s Isham Jalil, a member of the party’s supreme council, is facing the possibility of expulsion due to his outspoken criticisms of the party’s electoral collaboration with Pakatan Harapan (PH). While he believes his name may be on the chopping block for his stance against working with PH, he denies instructing grassroots supporters not to vote for PH candidates in recent by-elections.
In a Facebook statement, Isham expressed his willingness to accept the party’s decision, stating that his advocacy was rooted in his genuine concern for his religion, race, and country rather than personal interests. He previously asserted that Umno lost 27,000 Malay votes in recent by-elections, suggesting a decline in support for both Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.
Isham acknowledged the idea of Umno supporting PH as part of a unity government but disagreed with the notion of contesting elections jointly. He emphasized that the Agong’s wishes were not specific to election cooperation.
Denying allegations of instructing Umno members not to vote for PH or DAP, Isham clarified his focus on Umno constituencies. He also refuted claims of having certain backers and addressed calls for his resignation, stating that he was elected by the grassroots and did not join the council through appointment.
Furthermore, Isham expressed gratitude for not having to promote DAP in his role as Umno’s information chief and emphasized his disinterest in pursuing positions for personal gain.
The Umno supreme council is set to convene tomorrow night, potentially deciding Isham Jalil’s fate within the party.