NOOR Azmi Ghazali has announced he is leaving Umno and Barisan Nasional.

This leaves the BN lynchpin party with 53 MPs.

The Bagan Serai MP has switched allegiance, pledging support for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Perak Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu. 

“From this moment on, I have left Umno and BN, and declared my support for Mahathir,” Azmi said at press conference in his constituency, which was broadcast live on Sinar Harian.

The two-term MP said he was independent for now but had plans to join Bersatu at a later date. 

He is the first Umno MP to leave the party since the general election on May 9.

Noor Azmi retained the Bagan Serai parliamentary seat in the 14th general election a majority of 172 votes in a three-cornered fight.

PH won 113 of 222 parliamentary seats, defeating BN, which took 79 seats, and PAS (18).

Parti Warisan Sabah won eight seats, independent candidates three, and Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku one. – June 24, 2018.