Mat Hasan eyeing Rembau in GE15, may move KJ to nearby seat

Mohamad Hasan is looking to move up to a seat at the parliamentary table come the 15th general election (GE15), with the Umno deputy president expressing an interest to contest in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan.

The announcement, however, would put current three-term Umno Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin in a jam and force the latter to move to another constituency in the next polls.

The four-term Rantau assemblyperson reportedly said the move would befit his responsibilities at the Umno central leadership level.

Mohamad is a Rembau native, the Rembau Umno division chief, and had served as Negeri Sembilan menteri besar from 2004 to 2018.

“I can no longer just contest at the state level... there is a big possibility that come GE15, I will offer myself to contest as Rembau parliamentarian,” Mohamad was quoted as saying by portal Edisi 9, during the Sri Kota Umno general assembly last night.

“As there are two people from one spot (Khairy and Mohamad), we must split to other areas.

“I do not know where (else) to go, this is my area and as division chief, I offer myself here,” he said.

It was reported that the suggestion for Mohamad to contest in Rembau was first mooted by Sri Kota Umno chief Awaludin Said.

'Good' seat for Khairy

However, Mohamad had made known his intention to move to a Parliament seat even during the Rantau state by-election last year.

As for Khairy, Mohamad said the former Umno Youth chief would be moved to another “good” seat nearby.

The report speculated that the science, technology and innovation minister could be assigned to wrest back the Tampin seat currently held by Amanah’s Hasan Bahrom.

That parliamentary seat was previously held by Umno's Shaziman Mansor until GE14.

Aside from his current cabinet profile, Khairy, 46, had served as youth and sports minister under the previous BN government. He also contested as Umno president but lost to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the 2018 party polls.

It is unclear, however, if Mohamad’s bid for Rembau has been agreed to at the party level.

Malaysiakini is attempting to contact Mohamad for clarification and Khairy for a response. - Mkini