ARAU incumbent Shahidan Kassim confirmed he will defend his seat under the Perikatan Nasional (PN) banner in the general election (GE).

The Arau Umno division chief said his candidacy will be officially announced tonight, according to a Sinar Harian report.

He said the move was made as he thinks PN can unite Umno, PAS, and Bersatu on the same platform.

Dropped from Barisan Nasional’s (BN) line-up for the GE, Shahidan claimed PAS and Bersatu supporters are backing him.

He also said he is intent on going up against BN’s Rozabil Abd Rahman in Arau, said a Free Malaysia Today report.

Shahidan said Arau can be a “model” for the Muafakat Nasional electoral pact signed in 2019 between Umno and PAS.

“I want Umno to also back me,” he was quoted as saying. 

There have been declarations from some Umno leaders that the alliance between the two biggest Malay parties in the country is “dead”.

“I will be contesting under one party formed with Umno, PAS and Bersatu that fights for race, religion and country. Even though Umno also fights for race, religion and country, it is now led by someone who betrayed Arau’s top division’s decision,” he told reporters at Pusat Khidmat Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim in Kubang Gajah, Arau, today.

Perlis PN chairman Shukri Ramli, who was also present at the venue, said PAS supporters would back the caretaker Federal Territories minister as his candidacy has been approved by both the state and federal PN leadership. – November 3, 2022.