Ismail Abd Muttalib now with Pas

MARAN: Incumbent Maran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib today confirmed that he has joined Pas, one day after he was announced as a Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate in the 15th general election (GE15).

However, Ismail said he would not be sending any letter of resignation to UMNO but would leave it to the party to decide on his membership status.

"I will not send a letter ... if you have joined (another party) it means you have quit (UMNO).

"I offered myself (to be PN candidate) and tomorrow I will be with them at the nomination centre," he told a news conference after a 'Carnival to Empower Keluarga Malaysia Community' in Maran district here last night.

Yesterday, Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang announced in Terengganu that Ismail would be contesting the Maran seat on a PN ticket.

Ismail, who has held the Maran seat since 2004, had been dropped by Barisan Nasional as a GE15 candidate several days ago.

-- BERNAMA