Kedah Polls: Umno has identified seats it intends to contest

KUALA NERANG: Umno has identified the seats of state in Kedah that the party plans to contest in the upcoming state election, said its Vice President Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Picture).

He declined to reveal the number and said the final decision on the matter would be taken by the unity government secretariat, which will meet on March 19.

Mahdzir, who was led by Umno President Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed “foster father” to oversee the party’s work in Kedah, said Umno had held internal talks on the matter.

“We have held meetings ourselves several times at the Umno level and also with BN (Barisan Nasional) at the state level, alongside informal meetings with Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders.

“These are unofficial discussions because we are awaiting the final decision of the higher PH-BN committee (unity government secretariat) at the national level,” he said when met by reporters after he announced the Wanita and Puteri wings of the Padang Terap Umno Division had reviewed delegate meetings here today.

When asked about rumors that he would vote in the Kedah elections, Padang Division Chief Terap Umno, who is also a former Kedah Menteri Besar, declined to comment, describing it as a personal matter.

Meanwhile, in Machang, Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said Kelantan Umno will discuss the allocation of seats for the state elections once the Umno elections are over.

“In Kelantan, we think it is better to let the district level party elections be completed first, because when they are over, of course, Umno’s new leadership lineup will be formed at the state level.

“So far there has been no decision, including who will be the candidates, and when the allocation of seats is settled, we will sit down to discuss at the state leadership level before we meet Umno President Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to make a proposal,” he told reporters when meeting in Pusat Transformasi Ilmu, Bukit Tiu.

Ahmad Jazlan further commented that after the party’s elections, Kelantan Umno will focus on strengthening its machinery to face the state elections. -Bernama