Has Keadilan Youth leader and former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Lokman Nor Adam tendered his resignation in order to rejoin his former party, Umno?

While Lokman denied this today, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor painted a different picture.

Rumours of the high-profile defection were abuzz since the past month after it was reported in the Agenda Daily and Umno Reform websites.

Although Keadilan leaders scotched the speculation earlier, they gained credence last week when Keadilan Youth Selangor chief SD Johari replaced Lokman as the wing's executive secretary.

Contacted this afternoon, Lokman denied that he had resigned from Keadilan but declined to comment further.

"It is not true. I have never sent a resignation letter. Let them say what they want," he said when asked to comment on rumours that he will accept a position in Umno's Kluang divisional committee in Johor.

'Detrimental activities'

However, Mohd Ezam confirmed that Lokman had made a verbal request to him last week to quit his Keadilan Youth exco post.

"I decided to accept (the request) and replace him because I have received a lot of reports from members who said that Lokman had been engaging in activities which are detrimental to the party struggle," he said when contacted.

Elaborating, he explained that these activities included an alleged attempt by Lokman to persuade other party leaders to defect to Umno in return for "certain benefits".

"Many leaders have been approached. I was approached first but I refused so the Umno people are now going down (the leadership ranks)," he said.

Lokman rejected the claims while challenging Mohd Ezam to show proof of any wrongdoing.

"Ask him to give the names of people I have asked," he said.

Lokman also expressed dissatisfaction with an online article in PAS party organ Harakah Daily which reported that the former Youth secretary had been sacked from his post while confirming his return to the Umno fold.

"Earlier, it was reported that I resigned but now it is said that I was sacked from my secretary post. I am not sure if I am now also sacked as a party member. As far as I am concerned, I am still a Keadilan member," he said.

Lokman added fuel to the dispute by cautioning Mohd Ezam against revealing further details of their discussions to the press.

"There are lots of things that are not right (with the party), but I can't tell because I still consider him (Mohd Ezam) as a friend.

"I would advise him to be more mature and to remember that I was once very close to him and know a lot of things. Don't make me angry because if I open my mouth, he will lose his credibility," he warned.

Firebrand orator

If the defection materialises, it would be a major coup for Umno leaders who have been widely known to be handing out truce offers to their Keadilan rivals and former party compatriots.

Lokman was among the six reformasi activists, which also included Mohd Ezam, who were held under the ISA for two years for allegedly planning to topple the government through militant means.

The firebrand orator started his political career with Keadilan as the party's Johor Youth chief before being appointed as a national youth exco member after the 1999 general election.

He was then appointed as secretary to the wing in 2000 until his arrest and detention under the ISA the following year. He was reappointed to the post upon his release last June.

Splits within Keadilan are slowing emerging ahead of the general election, expected to be called in either March or April.

In Terengganu, Keadilan state Youth chief Fariz Musa is at loggerheads with the party state chief Abdul Rahman Yusof over the number of seats given to the party by its bigger coalition partner PAS to contest in the general election.

Abdul Rahman, the MP for Kemaman, was accused by Fariz of being too soft with PAS, where the party was only allocated two state seats and two parliamentary seats.

The state Youth has threatened to stop its general election machinery, a move which is backed by Ezam.