Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim's application to rejoin Umno has elicited strong remarks from the state PKR head.

lim guan eng visit kampung batu uban 210812 mansor othman "It's not surprising that Zahrain wants to rejoin Umno. If he contests, we will take him on," said Mansor Othman (right) , on the sidelines of a fundraising dinner organised by the women's wing in Bertam last night.

"But we doubt that BN will give him a seat. They may not do it because Penangites don't like ‘frogs’.”

Mansor questioned Zahrain's credibility as he had "jumped" from Umno to PKR, but then quit the party abruptly to become an Independent MP in 2010.

Zahrain had submitted his application form to Umno on Saturday, alongside 347 former PKR members, when Prime Minister and Umno head Najib Razak was at a lunch event in the Bayan Baru Umno division office.

The ex-PKR members were said to be from the Bayan Baru, Bukit Gelugor and Jelutong branches.

Unfazed, Mansor challenged Zahrain to furnish particulars of the individuals to prove that they had been card-carrying members of PKR.

zahrain hashim parliament 180310 He also scoffed at Zahrain (left) , claiming that he had not been received well by Najib who was on a working visit to Penang with his wife, Rosmah Mansor.

"We don't think Najib was happy about the matter as he did not respond. If he had really wanted to accept Zahrain, he would have said so that day," Mansor noted.

He said he expects Umno to merely exploit Zahrain as a tool “to be used again and again" in light of the upcoming general election.

It is learnt that Zahrain, who became ‘BN-friendly’ after leaving PKR, had been working with the grassroots in the Balik Pulau constituency to shore up support for his prospective candidacy.

The Balik Pulau parliamentary seat, a Malay-majority area, is currently held by PKR's Yusmadi Yusoff.

Speculation is rife that the three Umno state assemblypersons within the constituency - Dr Hilmi Yahya (Teluk Bahang), Muhammad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong) and Syed Ameruddin Syed Ahmad (Bayan Lepas) - are vying for the seat as well.

"So do you think Umno will allow him to contest in that seat? "If Zahrain is fielded there, it would (only) add to problems that exist in Umno.”" asked Mansor, who is Penanti assemblyperson.

Zahrain: I was duped

On Saturday, Bernama had quoted Zahrain as saying that he decided to return to Umno because it is “the only party that could champion the Malays, particularly in Penang, and look after the non-Malays, too".

"I was duped into believing the opposition's struggle. PKR and PAS claim that they champion the Malays but they only capitalise on the interests of the Malays. They are only good at making promises,” he reportedly said.

NONE Zahrain is unlikely to defend the Bayan Baru seat, which is expected to go to a MCA candidate. Pakatan Rakyat is likely to field Sim Tze Tzin (left) , who currently holds the Pantai Jerejak state seat.

Bernama also reported that former Penang PKR Wanita chief Aminah Abdullah has submitted her application to join Umno.

Since leaving PKR, she has been involved in NGO activities and has often been seen at the Penang Speakers Square.

Zahrain left PKR in a huff after a tiff with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, while Aminah said she has decided to enter Umno, as she is confident that BN can assist people in all ethnic groups.