Former members want to rejoin UMNO - Tengku Adnan

He said the list of former members wanting to rejoin UMNO was long and that they were giving all manner of reasons to return, including claiming that their dismissal from the party was improper.

"This proves that what (former Kedah menteri besar) Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said is wrong. He claimed people are leaving UMNO but those who were sacked want to come back (rejoin UMNO), Tengku Adnan told a press conference here.

He was asked to comment on the decision of Gelang Patah UMNO permanent chairman Datuk Baharom Abdul Ghani and Kulai UMNO Division deputy chief Datuk Tosrin Jarvanti to quit the party last Saturday.

Tengku Adnan, who is Federal Territories Minister and the MP for Putrajaya, had earlier attended the Aidiladha 'korban' (ritual slaughter) of cows for the Putrajaya constituency at Precinct 9 here.

He had contributed 120 cows for the ritual slaughter and for the meat to be distributed to the Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque, Putrajaya Corporation, Federal Territories Ministry, and mosques and suraus and UMNO branches in the constituency.

Asked whether other members would leave the party like Baharom and Tosrin, Tengku Adnan said UMNO would be unaffected by their departure.

He said quitting the party was the best option for members who raised controversy instead of being a "thorn in the flesh" of the party.

"Some quarters may be trying to entice UMNO members but I am confident that loyal UMNO members will remain with the party. UMNO members realise that UMNO is a structured party with the direction and objective to ensure that Malaysia remains peaceful and prosperous," he said.

On the suspension for six years of UMNO Youth executive committee member Mohd Rafiq Naizamohideen, Tengku Adnan said the decision was made after a thorough investigation showed solid evidence such as VCDs and recordings.

"Therefore, if you are not happy (with the party), you should not come out (and voice your unhappiness) publicly and tarnish the party. Thats why we took action against him. You should express your unhappiness within the party," he said.

Mohd Rafiq was suspended for allegedly having sabotaged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron, he said.

On a claim by former Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah that he was "attacked" at a Cabinet meeting, Tengku Adnan said he was unaware when that had taken place.

I also attend Cabinet meetings. We have discussions on the good of the country. When the prime minister or deputy prime minister chair the meeting, we can raise any matter that we want to," he said.

On another matter, Tengku Adnan, who is also Barisan Nasional secretary-general, said component parties should give preference to the BN struggle than their own interests.

He cited his own example of having been dropped from the Cabinet once but never went against the party for that.