Pakatan Rakyat is ready to negotiate with Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah if he is interested in defending his Gua Musang seat under the opposition ticket, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub has said.

Salahuddin was responding to Razaleigh's recent statement that he would contest the parliamentary seat he had been holding since1969 in the next general election, even if he is not nominated by Umno.

NONE "Whether Pakatan accepts it or not, it is not up to me to decide. It needs agreement from all component parties," Malay daily Sinar Harian today quoted Salahuddin as saying.

"I believe if he expresses the intention (to contest as Pakatan candidate), we are ready to talk (with him)," he said, adding that the former finance minister was still relevant in the current political landscape.

Razaleigh, who is widely known as Ku Li, told TV channel Astro Awani in a recent interview that only the people could decide his political career.

Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia in a report in last month said Kelantan BN chief Annuar Musa confirmed that Ku Li would be one of the 16 old faces who would be fielded in the next general election.

"Yes, Kelantan BN has nominated Razaleigh to again defend Gua Musang," Annuar is quoted as saying.

The Kelantan price is seen as a outspoken dissident within Umno because of his critical remarks he makes against BN and Umno from time to time.

Mustapa ready to contest two seats in Jeli