KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 ― Despite being on the run from the law for absconding bail, Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos appears very much interested to contest as Umno Youth chief.
A posting and an audio clip that is being shared widely on Facebook purports to be from the Sungai Besar Umno division chief throwing in his bid for the Malay party’s top Youth post as well as membership into its supreme council.
“The reason I am offering myself is to rebuild the fighting spirit in all Umno members throughout Malaysia, especially for the youths, to jointly continue the fight,” according to the statement attributed to Jamal.
Malay Mail attempted to contact Jamal but has yet to receive any response.
The incumbent Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin is vacating the post to contest the party's vice-presidency.
Jamal is known for his controversial antics and protests, and is also the self-styled leader of the so-called “Red Shirts” movement.
He absconded on May 25 while under custody at the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital where he was hospitalised before the completion of bail proceedings over a public nuisance charge.
Malaysian police got a warrant for his arrest two days ago.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Jamal had been given ample time to surrender, but now action will be taken against the latter for fleeing from lawful arrest under Section 224 of the Penal Code.
Jamal had offered to meet police on May 30 after jumping bail, claiming it was a misunderstanding, but failed to show.
Instead, he later released a video and claimed to be a “victim” of a conspiracy for his downfall.
More recently, Jamal ― or a soundalike ― can be heard asking for “protection” in audio clip on the Facebook page of one Iqbal Khalid who also posted the Umno grassroots leader’s latest statement.
Sin Chew Daily cited sources as saying Jamal has since fled to the port town of Tanjung Balai Karimun of the Karimun island in the Riau Islands province in Indonesia.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has ordered Malaysian police to seek assistance from their Indonesian counterparts to locate and capture Jamal.
