Ezam Rejoined Umno

PM Dato Seri Ahmad Badawi receiving Ezam application form to rejoin Umno- Photo courtesy from Malaysiakini

Ex-Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth chief, Mohamed Ezam Md Nor rejoined Umno after being sacked from the party 10 years ago.He was accepted to the party by Dato Seri Ahmad Badawi in a simple ceremony but was given extensive coverage from both the mainstream and alternative media.His entry to the party was to help in the reform measures which will be undertaken by the Pak Lah administration to build the sagging popularity of Umno after the disastrous 12th General Election.

Meanwhile Ezam's decision to rejoin Umno was cautiously welcomed by Umno leaders.Displaying sign of uneasiness among Umno leaders, Umno Vice President Tan Sri Muhjiddin Yassin have asked Umno Supreme Council to consider Ezam's application thoroughly. He said that party members were not happy with the preferential treatment accorded to Ezam on his application. He said application to join Umno should go through the normal process which is through the branch chief.Ex-PM Tun Mahathir Mohd warned party members that his entry to Umno could paved the way for the entry of his mentor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to Umno. He also could be a 'Trojan Horse' for PKR.

In an extensive interview with the online political news portal Malaysiakini, the ex-political secretary to Anwar refuted claim that he has personal agenda for joining Umno. I have no agenda. I returned to Umno without a personal agenda for anybody - not for PKR or Umno, or even Abdullah. I am in Umno with a reform agenda. To be a spy is the lowest moral standing that any politician should have and that's definitely not my stand.

Certainly Ezam decision's to rejoin Umno has raised eyebrows from both Umno and PKR. Both sides are bound to keep a close watch on what his political game is with the looming Umno election schedule to be held by end of December 2008.He had earlier denied claim that he is fighting for the Umno Youth chief post which was quoted by many major dailies.