PETALING JAYA: Tambun Tulang assemblyman Ismail Kassim, the younger brother of Perlis Umno chairman Shahidan Kassim, quit the Barisan Nasional (BN) component party last night, citing a loss of confidence in its leaders.
“I officially quit Umno and BN to become an independent candidate,” Ismail was quoted as saying in a report by the New Straits Times.
He said he had considered leaving Umno since 2008, and had made his decision without his brother’s knowledge.
“I wish to state that I am not a puppet. I also want to prove that one can be siblings but have different views in terms of politics,” he said.
According to the report, he intends to join Pakatan Harapan component PPBM, with an announcement on the matter to be made soon.
Ismail had been one of the candidates for Perlis menteri besar, but Perlis Raja Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail said he did not choose him as he did not want a menteri besar who would “become a puppet and be controlled by external forces”.
Bintong assemblyman Azlan Man was sworn in as menteri besar on May 24.