| Ezam Back In Umno |
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Former PKR Youth leader Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor (left) hands over his application form to Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a brief ceremony at Parliament House, Kuala Lumpur. Pix: Kassim Saad
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KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor, former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Youth leader and one-time confidant of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, today rejoined Umno.
He handed his application form and a RM100 fee for life membership to Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a news conference at Parliament House here.
Abdullah, whom Ezam had met at the prime minister's office at Parliament House earlier, said Ezam's readmission into Umno was unconditional.
"No conditions are attached to Exam's readmission (into Umno). He does not get any special treatment or privileges. He has also not sought any position. He just wants to serve and struggle for the party," he told reporters.
Abdullah said there was no objection from the Umno Supreme Council to Exam's readmission into Umno.
The Umno president handed Ezam's application form and fee to Umno executive secretary Brig Gen (Rtd) Datuk Husainay Hashim.
Asked whether Ezam's readmission into Umno was a morale booster for the party, Abdullah said the admission of anyone into Umno helped to strengthen the party.
"Otherwise, why join Umno? Surely there is the intention to strive together for the Umno. Umno is a political party, not a company. A company will want to make profits," he said.
Asked whether Ezam's contribution would be different from that of any other person joining Umno considering that Ezam had held a senior position in PKR, Abdullah said: "Oh, is that so? Let's see what happens."
Abdullah said Ezam had expressed the intention to return to Umno and strive for the party in accordance with its objectives and not those of PKR, and he (Abdullah) acknowledged this.
Asked about Ezam having been close to Anwar at one time, Abdullah said Ezam was sincere about wanting to return to Umno and it would be seen whether his return would pave the way for others to support Umno.
He also said that Umno Youth did not oppose the move to readmit Ezam into the party.
Abdullah said the question of Ezam, 41, being allowed to contest any post at the party's general assembly in December would have to be referred to the provisions in the party constitution.
The prime minister said that when he was out of Umno, surely Ezam was critical of what was going on and that he had had a change of mind now.
"Perhaps he has come to realise, after having been on both sides (the opposition and the government) that Umno is a better party to be the platform for his struggle.
"This question should have been put to him. His strong point is that he has been in another party under another leadership, and he feels that Umno is better," he said.
Asked whether Umno could accept others from PKR who wanted to join Umno as well, Abdullah said Umno would have to consider the matter first and see who the individuals were.
He also said that Ezam had not been assigned any specific duty in Umno yet.
On the question of party crossovers which had been much talked about following the general election in March, Abdullah said that referred to members of parliament and not what had happened today (Ezam's rejoining Umno).
Prior to joining PKR (then Parti Keadilan Nasional) in 1999, Ezam was Petaling Jaya Selatan Umno Division chief (from 1993 to 1996) and Selangor Umno Youth secretary (from 1996 to 1998). He had also served as political secretary to the Finance Minister from 1996 to 1998 and was a fellow of the Institute of Policy Research from 1998 to 2005.
Ezam resigned from PKR last year, reportedly after an internal power struggle with PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, currently the Member of Parliament for Gombak.
-- BERNAMA
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