This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 2, 2018

ALOR SETAR: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin says that he has come out in solidarity with Pakatan Harapan to fight for justice for the people and is not worried about being disciplined by Umno because it is now an illegal society.

Daim, who was once the Umno treasurer-general, said he cannot be a member of an illegal society, hence is supporting “justice” by speaking at Pakatan events.

“I am fighting for justice for the people. I am not scared of disciplinary action being taken against me because Umno is an illegal society and under the law, I cannot be a member of an illegal society,” he told reporters after meeting with voters in Pendang yesterday.

Umno’s status is being called into question because it has yet to hold elections at supreme council, division and branch levels since October 2013. However, the Registrar of Societies has approved its application to postpone the elections till April 19, 2019 although the party should have conducted them by April 19 this year.

Since its last election, it would have been 54 months in April, which is reportedly the maximum limit permitted in Umno’s constitution.

When asked, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Datuk A Kadir Jasin, who is a personal friend of Daim, said the former finance minister could be sacked by Umno but thought that it could happen “maybe later”.

“From his comment, you can tell that he does not want to be a member but he is not going to write a letter and say he is leaving the party. However, from what he has said now, Umno might take action but not now, maybe later,” he told The Edge Financial Daily.

Daim, who was the finance minister in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet on two occasions, was also asked to comment on his speaking engagements with Pakatan, of which Dr Mahathir is chairman.

Speculation is rife that Daim, who is close to Dr Mahathir, is funding the coalition’s campaign.

Although Daim has yet to comment on the speculation, Kadir said that Daim has promised to build 1,500 houses for the people in Langkawi, and a new hospital in Pendang if Pakatan is voted in.