UMNO has yet to decide whether to work with other parties or contest independently in the Malacca election, said deputy president Mohamad Hassan.

According to Mohamad, who is also Umno’s election director, what is important now is that the party must be prepared to face any eventuality in the polls.

“Let’s not expect outside help for us to win. We must build our own internal strength,” he told reporters yesterday.

He added that it was up to Malacca Umno whether it was willing to work with Perikatan Nasional (PN) to avoid three-cornered fights during the polls.

“It is up to state Umno, and it will need to propose to central Umno as it cannot make its own decision. Must get approval from central. If central says ‘OK’ then it’s OK (to work with state PN),” he said, adding that the party machinery at polling district centre level had been instructed to make preparation, from tomorrow, for the election.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said the party had automatically revoked memberships of Sungai Udang assemblyman Idris Haron and Pantai Kundur assemblyman Noor Azman Hassan after they appeared on stage with the opposition.

He said it was stipulated in an amendment to the party’s constitution made at the Umno general assembly last year, adding that the reps would receive a notification letter in the near future.

Umno liaison committee chairman Ab Rauf Yusoh Ab Rauf, who is also assembly speaker, today announced that Malacca Yang Dipertua Negeri Mohd Ali Rustam had agreed to dissolve the assembly on October 4, thus making way for an election. – Bernama, October 6, 2021.