The Felda Tersang PAS members who left the party amidst the Batu Talam campaigning period to join the ruling Umno did it "for the sake of their families."

One of them who defected over the weekend, Mohd Zulkifli Abdul Rahman, 48, said that Felda Tersang settlers are able to decide for themselves which party best represents their interests.

Mohd Zulkifli is one of 24 PAS members who signed up with Umno last Sunday. In dramatic fashion, they had presented their application forms to the party's deputy president, Najib Tun Razak during a function at SM Felda Tersang 1.

"I have been a member of PAS for over 25 years, but now we face many problems and the opposition party cannot help us," he told malaysiakini .

For example, he said his housing loan from Felda from three years ago has yet to be approved.

Mohd Zulkifli suspected that the delay is due to the fact that he is a PAS supporter in the Felda area.

In this Sunday's Batu Talam by-election, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Abdul Aziz Mat Kiram will face Independent candidate Ng Chee Pang.

"I made his decision to switch parties for the sake of my future and the future of my family on this land," he said.

On the same note, he said many other PAS supporters on the land scheme have voiced their desire to join Umno.

Election boycott

"I do not know the actual figures, but in a few days, the answers will be known," he added.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid Saad, 53, said he joined the ruling party because the struggle of PAS "no longer suits the needs of Felda Tersang settlers."

He said issues pertinent to the settlers need to be raised from time to time, and this could no longer be done by PAS leaders.

"My heart has changed ... now I am an Umno man. I have had enough of PAS," he said when contacted by malaysiakini.

Meanwhile, Abdul Hamid said PAS action to boycott the Batu Talam by-election is also a factor for signing up with Umno.

Last night, Umno Felda Tersan chief Ahmad Salleh said the former PAS members defected to Umno due to the opposition decision to boycott the Batu Talam by-election.

He expected 50 more PAS members to join Umno before polling day this Sunday.