Guar Chempedak assemblyperson Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail has quit Umno to become an independent.

According to Sin Chew Daily, state speaker Ahmad Kassim announced Ku Rahman’s decision during the Kedah Legislative Assembly meeting this morning.

The 65-year-old reportedly wrote to the speaker yesterday to make his decision known.

Ku Rahman, a three-term assemblyperson, was appointed as state exco in charge of investment, industry and trade by the previous administration in 2013.

His resignation reduces BN's seats in the state assembly to two.

At present, Pakatan Harapan controls 18 of the 36 seats in the assembly, with the remaining seats held by PAS.

Ku Rahman defeated PAS candidate Musoddak Ahmad for the state seat in the 14th general election.

He holds a doctorate degree in Rubber Science from Loughborough University, United Kingdom, and served as political secretary to former Defence Minister Syed Hamid Albar from 1997 until 2001.