UMNO’S Ahmad Jazlan Yaakob has resigned as Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) chairman in protest of the poor treatment of his party by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.

The Machang MP earlier today submitted his resignation to Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali after being on the job for only eight months. 

“It is for the principles and dignity of the party,” Ahmad Jazlan told The Malaysian Insight when contacted. 

The Kelantan Umno chief added one of the main reasons for him to quit the position was that Bersatu, in particular, has been stepping on Umno’s head despite being coalition partners since February. 

“It is indeed because Bersatu has taken us for granted,” Ahmad Jazlan said. 

He was reported earlier by Astro Awani as saying he would resign if the government does not dissolve Parliament by the end of January. 

However, barely hours after that Ahmad Jazlan gave the notice to the minister. His resignation comes into effect on Wednesday. 

Umno and PN parties, especially Bersatu, have been at loggerheads with Umno leaders claiming the party has been sidelined in the government.

Tensions also became vocal over last weekend when at Umno divisional meetings, leaders openly fired at Bersatu.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi also said that the party would contest in all seats previously won, including those belonging to Bersatu currently. 

The former deputy prime minister also said in the next general election, Umno and the other parties in BN will use the BN logo which they had traditionally used and not the new PN logo.

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan yesterday urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to call for election soon and not use the Covid-19 pandemic as an excuse as the vaccines will be rolled out next month. 

Umno elections director Tajuddin Abdul Rahman also made it clear yesterday that Umno will not work with Bersatu in the 15th general election.

In addition, Pahang Umno state liaison chief Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail told Bersatu not to contest in Pahang because the party has no seat in the state.

Meanwhile, Free Malaysia Today reported that Pulai Umno in Johor became the first division in the country to pass a resolution asking party leaders to quit the PN government immediately to force a general election.

Its head, Nur Jazlan Mohamed, said delegates at the annual general meeting last Friday had unanimously decided that it would be in the best interest of Umno and its reputation to leave the ruling coalition before the party is also blamed for the failure of PN to govern effectively. – January 4, 2021.