FORMER Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad is the latest party veteran to join Bersatu, reported Utusan Online.

Perlis Bersatu secretary Wan Saiful Wan Jan accompanied party secretary-general Marzuki Yahya to hand Radzi his membership card in Kangar yesterday.

“Radzi’s membership has boosted the spirits of the Bersatu state leadership,” Wan Saiful was quoted as saying.

“His extensive knowledge will help boost Bersatu’s struggle, especially in Perlis.”

The 76-year-old Radzi, who is the son of the first Perlis menteri besar, joined Umno in 1972 and won the Kangar parliamentary seat 10 years later.

He was a deputy minister in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet from 1983 to 1988.

During the 1987 Umno political crisis, Radzi teamed up with Tengku Razaleigh Tengku Hamzah, who challenged Dr Mahathir’s position as party president.

Radzi and Tengku Razaleigh then left Umno to set up Semangat 46, before eventually returning to the Umno fold.

In the 14th general election, Umno-Barisan Nasional retained just two states: Perlis and Pahang.

Of BN’s nine state seats in Perlis, Umno holds eight and MCA, one. PAS has two seats and PKR, three. The remaining state seat is held by an independent. – December 14, 2018.