Umno information chief Annuar Musa today said that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia vice-president Mukhriz Mahathir is welcomed to rejoin Umno if he harbours any ambitions to become the next prime minister.

Annuar told a press conference at Umno headquarters that even Guar Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah had previously quit to form Semangat 46 but later rejoined the party.

"If he (Mukhriz) feels like coming back, there is no problem. We can discuss.

"Not just him but any other leaders," he said after chairing a meeting of Umno's information secretariat, comprising the party's state information chiefs.

Mukhriz, the former Umno Kedah menteri besar, was sacked from the party in June together with former deputy president and now Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Annuar said this when asked for comments on recent claims by blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad is plotting his son's ascension to the prime minister's post via the finance minister's post.

Raja Petra in the Sept 24 article on online portal Malaysia Outlook suggested that this was based on Mahathir's own argument that the prime minister should not also be the finance minister.

Annuar, meanwhile, also said Umno welcomes any move by Muhyiddin and Bersatu to contest against Umno in the 14th general election.

"That (contest) is most welcomed. That is what we want.

"We were worried they would not get to contest. That all the seats already belonged to PKR and Amanah, inherited from PAS, and DAP will refuse to give up their seats," he said sarcastically.

"So we welcome if Muhyiddin (and Bersatu) can contest in 120 seats like Umno," he said when asked for Muhyiddin's request to PAS for Bersatu to be allowed to contest against Umno in Kelantan.

Online portal Free Malaysia Today yesterday quoted Muhyiddin as having made the request on Friday night at Bersatu's first appearance on a PAS stage in Kemaman, Terengganu.

On the recent political developments in Sabah, Annuar similarly remarked that he is 'worried' about PKR and DAP, following exits of their parliamentarians and leaders to a new local party.

"I am not so worried about Umno because the one who left, we were the one who made him leave," said Annuar in reference to Semporna MP Shafie Apdal.

Shafie, a former Umno vice-president, was suspended for his criticisms against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak but he later quit the party and recently announced formation of a new local Sabah opposition party.