Deputy minister dropped from polls by BN joins PAS

Maran incumbent Ismail Abd Muttalib yesterday confirmed that he had joined PAS, a day after he was announced as a Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate in the 15th general election (GE15).

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 a PN candidate) and tomorrow I will be with them at the nomination centre," the deputy housing and local government minister told a news conference in Maran last night.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang had announced in Terengganu that Ismail would be contesting the Maran seat on a PN ticket.

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