TANJONG KARANG, Nov 5 — After Barisan Nasional's decision to drop incumbent Tanjong Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar from contesting in the 15th general election (GE15), a member of the local Umno division committee this morning entered the contest as an independent candidate as a show of protest.

Mohd Rosni Mastol, 59 who hails from Sungai Burong said he wants to carry the voice of local grassroots members using the theme Jebat Kembali (Jebat returns) — depicting a rebel Malay warrior against the Melaka King for injustice.

"I represent the voices of the grassroots here who are disheartened by the removal of Tan Sri Noh who is a good MP.

"We do not agree with the way the president remove him as the representative here,” he said referring to Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Asked whether he is afraid of being sacked for running against the party candidate, Rosni smirked and said he is willing to be the "black sheep.”

"I am willing to be sacrificed or branded as a black sheep to remind the president of his mistake,” he said.

Clad in peach Baju Melayu, Rosni was accompanied by his daughter Nur Khairunissa Rosni and another local Umno member Nor Miskan.

He said he is the only local among the four other candidates who are contesting this time around.

"I don’t want others to say that the locals are not brave,” he said.

The former special affairs department (Jasa) officer will run against Noh’s replacement, division women chief Datuk Habibah Mohd Yusof, Malaysia United Democratic Alliance (Muda) Siti Rahayu Baharin, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) Azlan Sani Zawawi and Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi.

Yesterday, Noh said he has accepted being dropped as a candidate for the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat by Umno.

However, he did not hide the fact that he was disappointed, to say the least, with the decision, and criticised Umno president and BN chairman Ahmad Zahid.