UMNO will stand in at least 80 seats in the next general election, party deputy president Mohamad Hassan told Utusan Online.

The Rantau assemblyman said the party was confident of winning at least 70 of the seats.

He told the paper the party was prepared to go it alone at the next general election if it could not reach agreement with PAS.

He said talks were still ongoing with the Islamist party regarding seat allocation.

Mohamad, known as Tok Mat to his colleagues and constituents, said Malays would not vote for Perikatan Nasional as Bersatu had betrayed Pakatan Harapan, adding that supporters are divided between PN and PH.

“Umno-Barisan Nasional still has its base of supporter, our hardcore supporters,” he was quoted as saying in the report.

The Umno Supreme Council, in its last meeting on February 19, agreed to cut ties with Bersatu at the end of the term.

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak said it had always been Umno’s will to support Bersatu only until the next elections.

PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had urged the party leaders to continue backing Bersatu-led PN.

He said it was PAS’ intention to continue working with Bersatu and Umno for the sake of the country. – March 26, 2021.