PETALING JAYA: Umno has rebuffed calls to negotiate with Perikatan Nasional (PN) some 13 parliamentary seats it lost through defections.
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According to a Sinar Harian report, Umno elections director Tajuddin Abdul Rahman said his party has already decided to contest in and retake the seats.
“Umno’s stand is to take back all the areas (lost through) defections. So, when we want to take them back, there is no need for discussions,” he said.
He was commenting on PN information chief Azmin Ali’s invitation to Umno to negotiate the 13 seats, which are among the reasons for their fallout.
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Since the 14th general election, a number of Umno MPs have defected to PPBM, the PN lynchpin. They include Mustapa Mohamed (Jeli), Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali (Bagan Serai), Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah), Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Rosol Wahid (Kuala Terengganu), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Shabudin Yahaya (Tasek Gelugor), Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Abd Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Zakaria Mohd Edris (Libaran) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang).
Azmin, in his interview with the Malay daily, had said Umno should not destroy the cooperation forged over a year ago.
However, Tajuddin, the Pasir Salak MP, said no one wanted to destroy the PN government and this was why Umno had pledged to support it until Parliament was dissolved.
Previously, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the party would not cooperate with PPBM in the next general election, though Perlis and Sabah Umno have taken an opposing stand.- FMT