Penang Gerakan chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan has urged the leadership of Umno and Barisan Nasional not to accept Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin as a member.

Dr Teng said Zulkifli is perceived as a religious extremist and a racist. “He was sacked by PKR for his unwillingness to subscribe to multi-racialism.”

“Accepting him into Umno and Barisan Nasional will not augur well for BN as a moderate and multi-racial coalition serving the interests of all Malaysians,” said Dr Teng in a statement.

Dr Teng, who is also a Gerakan vice-president, pointed out that Zulkifli had led a noisy protest to disrupt a Bar Council’s Conversion to Islam forum in Kuala Lumpur, on Aug 9, 2008.

Dr Teng said Gerakan was perturbed with the statement by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that Umno’s door “was always open to anyone wanting to become its members” including Zulkifli Noordin.

Dr Teng said Barisan Nasional in general and Umno in particular should not accept religious extremists and racists into its fold.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on the situation of the former PKR members – Mohsin Samsuri (Bagan Serai), Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru) and Zulkifli.