Ezam to rejoin Umno - The Star

By Joceline Tan

PETALING JAYA: Former PKR Youth leader Ezam Mohd Nor will be rejoining Umno after receiving the green light from the top Umno leadership.

He will also cease to head the anti-corruption NGO, Gerak, from June 1 in preparation for his return to Umno. Mohd Nazree Yunus has been named to take over as chairman of Gerak.

Sources said he has met both the Umno president as well as deputy president for discussions in connection with his move.

His return to Umno is expected to be announced soon and will be seen as a blow to PKR.

Ezam, 40, was a rising star in Umno when he chose to follow Datuk Seri Anwar Irahim out of Umno after the latter’s sacking in 1998.

He was then Anwar’s political secretary and had also gone to jail under the ISA and OSA.

He resigned from PKR last year after an internal power struggle with PKR vice-president Azmin Ali. At the time of his resignation, he criticised Anwar for his “dictatorial politics” and accused Azmin of being “a schemer who dominates Anwar.”

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/22/nation/21321829&sec=nation]