This comes days after Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali Azmi announced his exit from Umno and support for Pakatan Harapan.
Syed said he decided to leave Umno as it wasn’t “stable” eventhough the party had worked hard to wrest Bukit Gantang back from PAS in the May 9 polls.
“This dissapointment has led me to relinquish my positition as Bukit Gantang Umno chief and hand my duties over to my deputy.
“I want to give my full attention as an MP without any disturbance, and so I have decided to leave Umno and Barisan Nasional.”
He also said he would not be joining any other party nor had he discussed his exit with other parties.
Syed’s exit from Umno leaves the party with 52 MPs just two days before its party polls. It may well affect Umno presidential candidate Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, as the two MPs, like Zahid, are from Perak.
In the May 9 polls, Syed won a tough three-cornered fight against PAS’ Idris Ahmad and PH’s Khadri Khalid.