Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin has played down former law minister Zaid Ibrahim’s decision to join PAS, saying the move was not surprising.
Khaled said Zaid had effectively left Umno “a long time ago”, despite making a return to the party in 2022, and suggested that the former Kota Bharu MP was now seeking a new political platform to remain relevant, according to Utusan Malaysia.
“He’s been looking for a new place to shelter him. Good luck,” he was quoted as saying.
Zaid began his political career in Umno but was expelled in 2008 after attending an opposition party event. He later joined PKR, Parti Kita and DAP before rejoining Umno in 2022.
Earlier, Zaid pledged to challenge perceptions that PAS is extreme or undemocratic, saying the party is the only Malay-based political force capable of addressing inequality and class divisions.
He also expressed confidence that PAS could form the next federal government alongside like-minded progressive MPs after the next general election.
