UMNO warns members not to contest against ruling coalition

Malaysia's ruling party UMNO today warned its members not to contest against the coalition 'Barisan Nasional' in any election or by-election or their membership will be automatically revoked.
"Our (party's) constitution is very clear. If you contest on an independent platform or any other platform without Umno's consent you will be automatically sacked," UMNO executive secretary Ab Rauf Yusoh warned today after some party members had expressed unhappiness over the party's candidate selection process.
The Malay UMNO party is the majority party in the ruling coalition which also includes the ethnic Indian based Malaysian Indian Congress and ethnic Chinese based Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA).

Ab Rauf also gave the example of NGO Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali who contested the 2004 general election as an independent, the Star Online reported.
Perkasaor Persatuan PribumiPerkasa(Malay for "Mighty Native Organisation") is a non-governmental Malay dominance organisation formed by Ali.
Earlier today, a UMNO youth deputy secretary Syed Rosli Harman Jamalullail has announced his intentions to contest the Kuala Kangsar by-election, saying he was not happy with Barisan's decision to field another candidate.
UMNO Constitution states that any party member contesting a general election as an independent candidate will be expelled from the party.