Newly minted Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad has challenged MPs who quit Umno to relinquish their positions as elected representatives and trigger by-elections.

She said this in response to the Bagan Serai MP Noor Azmi Ghazali, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal and Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who had quit the party.

"The decision by the three MPs, particularly Mas Ermieyati, to become independent MPs, is clearly a betrayal of the people's trust who had elected them as Umno and BN representatives.

"Wanita Umno would like to remind Mas Ermieyati and other BN representatives that their position as MPs is not due to themselves but a combination of hard work by the party machinery and the people's trust in Umno and BN.

'If BN MPs have truly lost faith in Umno, Wanita Umno challenges them to resign as MPs and pave the way for a by-election as the people's mandate must be respected and they should be given the choice to elect MPs from the parties that they trust," she said in a statement today.

Mas Ermieyati was the latest Umno MP to announce her departure from the party today, citing her disappointment at the party election in retaining the old guards instead of choosing reforms.

Mas Ermieyati was the Puteri Umno chief but did not contest any position in this party election. Noraini had also once led Puteri Umno, from 2004 to 2008.

Noraini said Wanita Umno will discuss with the party's legal team to ensure that there will be no further defections.