KEDAH’S Guar Chempedak assemblyman Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail has quit Umno and become independent.

Speaker Ahmad Kassim announced Ku Rahman’s decision this morning.

With Ku Rahman’s decision to become an independent, Barisan Nasional is reduced to two assemblymen in the 36-seat assembly.

Currently, the ruling Pakatan Harapan has 18 seats while Islamist party PAS has 15 seats.

Three days ago, Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the party is willing to accept  Umno members of parliament and assemblymen provided they were willing to discard their past habits.

The prime minister said they must shed the “cash is king” mentality.

“In Bersatu, we work for race, religion and country. There is no ‘cash is king’ here, and if Umno members want to join, they must get rid of this mentality,” said the party chairman in a video message on Bersatu’s Facebook page.

The video is aimed at addressing talk that more MPs from Umno would defect to Bersatu, after the Barisan Nasional lynchpin lost six lawmakers following the 14th general election. It is now left with 48 MPs.

Of the six who quit, four are now independents, while Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed joined Bersatu and Labuan’s Rozman Isli is with Parti Warisan Sabah.

Dr Mahathir said Bersatu will screen applications from Umno members before deciding whether to accept them.

“They need to leave the culture of seeking personal gain and prioritise the struggles of the party. They must also prove that they no longer have ties with Umno.”

Ku Rahman, a three-term assemblyman, was the state exco in charge of investment, industry and trade in the previous BN government.

The 65-year-old was inducted as an exco after BN wrested the state from PAS in the 2013 general election. – November 12, 2018.