Umno has identified seats to contest in Kedah polls: Mahdzir

KUALA NERANG – Umno has identified the seats in Kedah that it intends to contest in the upcoming state polls, said vice-president Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid.

Declining to reveal the number, he said the final decision on the matter will be decided by the unity government secretariat which will meet on March 19.

Mahdzir, who was appointed as a “foster father” to lead the party’s work in Kedah by Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said that the party had held internal discussions on the matter.

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

“These are unofficial discussions because we are waiting for the final decision from the PH-BN parent committee (unity government secretariat) at the national level,” he said when met by reporters after checking on Padang Terap Umno’s Wanita and Puteri wings’ delegates meetings here today.

Asked about rumours that he will be contesting in the Kedah election, the Padang Terap Umno chief, who is also a former Kedah menteri besar, refused to comment and described it as a personal matter.

Meanwhile in Machang, Kelantan Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said the state party would discuss seat distribution for the state polls once internal polls are over.

“In Kelantan, we think it is better to let the party election at the divisional level be completed first because when they are over, the new leadership line-up of Umno at the state level will of course be formed.

“So far there has been no decision, including on who will be candidates, and when the distribution of seats is settled, we will sit down to discuss at the state leadership level before submitting a proposal to Umno president (Zahid),” he told reporters when met at Pusat Transformasi Ilmu at Bukit Tiu.

Commenting further, Jazlan said that after the internal election is over, Kelantan Umno will focus on strengthening its machinery to face the state polls. – Bernama, March 11, 2023