UMNO yet to decide on cooperation for Melaka polls - Mohamad

Mohamad, who is also UMNO's election director, said that what was important now was that the party must be prepared to face any eventuality in the polls.

"Let's not expect outside help for us to win. We must build our own internal strength," he told reporters, after a meeting with the Melaka UMNO machinery here last night.

Also present were state UMNO Liaison Committee chairman, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, and UMNO secretary-general, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.

Asked about the willingess of the Melaka Perikatan Nasional (PN) to hold talks with UMNO to avoid three-cornered fights during the polls, Mohamad said that it was up to state UMNO.

"It is up to state UMNO, and it will need to propose to central UMNO as it cannot make its own decision. Must get approval from central (UMNO). If central (UMNO) said okay then it's okay (to work with state PN)," he said.

He said that the party machinery at the polling district centre (PDM) level had been instructed to make preparation, from tomorrow, to face the election.

Meanwhile, Mohamad said that the memberships of Sungai Udang assemblyman, Datuk Seri Idris Haron and Pantai Kundur assemblyman, Datuk Noor Azman Hassan were automatically revoked after them being on stage with the opposition.

He said that the matter was stipulated in the amendment to the party's constitution, made at the UMNO General Assembly last year.

A notification letter on the revocation would be handed over to Idris and Noor Azman in the near future.

Ab Rauf, who is also Assembly Speaker, today announced that Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, had agreed to dissolve the State Assembly on Oct 4, thus making way for a state election.