DR Noor Azmi Ghazali said he left Umno because his own party members were sabotaging his political career. 

The Bagan Serai MP said Umno division members in his constituency had even tried to ruin his candidacy chances in the general election, which had “hurt”. 

“There was an element of sabotage. Some people in Bagan Serai were told to vote for all three Umno state assembly candidates but not for me,” he told The Malaysian Insight on the sidelines of Parliament. 

“The report came from the division and state war room but no action was taken. I assume it was sabotage. It was bad. It hurt.”

Dr Noor Azmi said then prime minister Najib Razak had wanted him as the Bagan Serai candidate, but the division was opposed to the decision. 

“They finally said they agreed (my candidacy ) but in their hearts, they did not want me. The last five years were horrible for me,” said Dr Noor Azmi.

“They did not seem to accept me at all. I was very patient for five years but the time had come (to move on). So I left.”

The Malaysian Insight today reported that prior to Dr Noor Azmi’s departure from the party, the Bagan Serai Umno divison members had treated Dr Noor Azmi like an outcast.

Dr Noor Azmi, who is a doctor, confirmed this, saying he had to bring his own chair to division meetings because none was prepared for him.

“I was not even invited to events and meetings. I had to go on my own accord. I was also not provided with a seat and had to bring my own chair,” Dr Noor Azmi said. 

He also called out former Perak menteri besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, who had said Dr Noor Azmi could have gone to him with the problem.

“The press conference yesterday is a total lie. He had avoided me completely,” Dr Noor Azmi said. 

Dr Noor Azmi won Bagan Serai in 2013 by 1,140 votes, beating PKR’s Dr Mohd Noor Manuty and an independent candidate. He held on to the seat by a mere 172 votes in the 14th general election last month.

He resigned from Umno yesterday, declaring support Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the Pakatan Harapan government. – June 26, 2018.