FORMER PAS leader Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali is expected to contest the Kuala Nerus parliamentary seat in Terengganu on an Umno ticket, sources revealed.

They said the decision was made by Umno leadership at the federal level, adding that the party’s state leaders were surprised with the development as they had not proposed Khairuddin’s name as a candidate.

The sources added that Terengganu Umno only found out about Khairuddin’s nomination two days ago.

“It is true that PAS leader Khairuddin will contest on an Umno ticket to defend his seat in Kuala Nerus.

“But the local division did not name Khairuddin as a candidate. The decision was made by the party’s top leadership,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

He added that Umno leadership in Kuala Lumpur may have agreed to name Khairuddin as their candidate in hopes of winning back the Kuala Nerus seat from PAS.

However, he warned that the move could also result in rejection and disappointment from the Kuala Nerus Umno division.

This is especially so when former menteri besar, Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman was one of the favourite candidates to compete in the parliamentary seat.

“What worries us is that this move may be detrimental to Umno itself. The leadership thinks putting Khairuddin can attract PAS voters or middle voters in the area.

“But what if there are protests from members of Umno who are not satisfied?

“Anyway we hope there will be a miracle when Barisan Nasional (BN) announces the official candidates tonight,” he said.

Yesterday, Khairuddin asked PAS members and Muslims to vote for BN in this general election.

He said that only BN was able to prevent Pakatan Harapan’s victory.

He said this while speaking at a meeting with the Kuala Nerus election machinery in Kuala Terengganu.

Khairuddin, who was involved in various controversies when he was a minister, left PAS in March after the party sacked him from all appointed positions.

He had been critical of PAS leadership for being close to Bersatu instead of Umno.

Previously, Terengganu Umno had stated its position to reject Khairuddin’s request to defend the seat on an Umno ticket. – November 1, 2022.