Muhyiddin says 'just found out’ Tok Pa quit Bersatu

SUNGAI BAKAP BY-ELECTION | Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin said he was unaware that former Jeli MP Mustapa Mohamed quit the party nine months ago until it was reported earlier today.

Met by reporters on Perikatan Nasional’s campaign trail today, the former prime minister also said he was not informed of Mustapa’s reason for doing so.

“I just heard, I read the news that he (Mustapa) is no longer a Bersatu member.

“Maybe after the last general election, he did not want to contest and let go of the Jeli seat. We (Bersatu) still ran there.

“But it’s okay, that’s his choice, he is still our friend,” said Muhyiddin.

“However, I hope he will remember the cooperation we have extended to him when he was in Bersatu,” said Muhyiddin, adding he also hoped Mustapa (above) will not be joining any other political party.

Jeli is one of six parliamentary seats that Bersatu is pushing to vacate through the anti-hopping law after it took action against its elected representative, Zahari Kechik.

Earlier today, Mustapa, a former five-term Jeli MP, denied a statement by Kelantan Bersatu chief Kamaruddin Mohd Nor that he was chosen to contest the seat once it is declared vacant.

“I would like to inform that I have resigned from all my positions as a Bersatu member on Sept 30, last year.

“I reiterate my statement made on Nov 2, 2022, that I have ‘retired’ from politics when I decided to not contest in the 15th general election,” said Mustapa, who the former Umno minister who joined Bersatu in 2018.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin said Bersatu will also re-contest the Nenggiri state seat in Kelantan, which has been declared vacant by the Election Commission (EC).

He said Bersatu will move to prepare the party’s machinery and identify a candidate ahead of official nominations on Aug 3.

The EC has set Aug 17 as the polling day for the Nenggiri polls.

Nenggiri heads to polls on Aug 17

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