Mukhriz Mahathir has rebuffed Umno information chief Annuar Musa's offer to rejoin the party, pointing out that he had not left Umno by choice, but was sacked.

This was in response to Annuar yesterday saying that the former Kedah menteri besar was welcome to become an Umno member again, if the latter wished to become the next prime minister.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or be shocked by that statement. I was sacked, I did not leave Umno,” Mukhriz told a press conference at Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

In dismissing the offer to rejoin, Mukhriz also pointed out that it only came from Umno's information chief.

He said that even Umno president Najib Abdul Razak had once offered him the position of deputy minister in exchange for his menteri besar post, but that did not transpire.

“Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) is not a temporary party that will return to Umno like previous splinter parties.

“We are here to stay, Umno’s time is up. We will take over the role previously held by Umno," said Mukhriz, who is Bersatu pro-tem vice-president.

Asked on Bersatu’s still-vacant deputy president’s post, he said discussions on the matter with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) were still ongoing.

He said the seven founding members were approved by the ROS as pro-tem committee members.

“So the deputy president’s post must be filled through a party election. The ROS understands that the election does not need to be expedited.

“Maybe there is no need for the post to be filled or maybe a party member can be appointed to hold the position temporarily, we would need the ROS’ confirmation on this,” he said.

Party relations

Meanwhile, on former Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal’s soon-to-be-launched Sabah-based party, Mukhriz said Bersatu agreed in principle on the existence of a party that would contribute to Umno's downfall.

“Based on the response of Sabahans, he (Shafie) has his own strength in shaking the position of Umno in Sabah.

“And this can be a factor in the victory of parties that are against Umno,” he said.

Several Pakatan Harapan state assemblypersons and lawmakers have quit their respective parties in favour of a local Sabah party.

Although they did not specify which party they will join, their exit comes amid Shafie's effort to take over an existing Sabah-based party to challenge the ruling coalition.

Meanwhile, Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, who was also present at the press conference, was asked on Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin’s attempt to be closer to PAS.

Salahuddin, a former PAS vice-president, said that Amanah has no problems with this as they had never regarded the Islamist party as the enemy.

“For me, Muhyiddin can have relations with anyone. As long as it leads to a situation of one to one fights.

“Amanah is also committed in ensuring one to one fights,” he said.

Muhyiddin, last Saturday, was one of the speakers at a PAS ceramah held in Kemaman, Terengganu.