Umno organising secretary Ab Rauf Yusof yet again expressed confidence that influential former Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin will move to the party.

He was referring to his discussion with Asri and other religious scholars in saying that the move will be revealed tomorrow.

" Insya Allah (God willing) this will be a reality. Umno accepts anyone including religious scholars to the party," he was quoted by the party's official website Umno Online yesterday.

NONE "From what I understand, Islamic scholars are upset to see PAS deviate from its struggles to achieve its own political ambitions," he said at an event held to commemorate former Umno disciplinary committee member Abu Zahar Ujang's appointment as Dewan Negara speaker.

There is intense speculation that Asri, ( right ) who is also a Malaysiakini columnist, is going to join the party following Umno Online 's report on Saturday that the party was wooing him.

It was reported that sources close to Asri confirmed several meetings between the Penang-born university lecturer and some Umno leaders.

The portal reported that Asri will among the 100 religious scholars to join the party tomorrow.