Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu. -filepic
IPOH: Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu (pic) has been tasked by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with leading negotiations with Umno and other Perikatan Nasional component parties over seat allocations for the 15th general election.
The Bersatu deputy president and former Perak mentri besar said he will lead a team of party leaders to start discussions with other parties.
The Tambun MP and Chenderiang assemblyman said he hopes all parties could discuss the matter amicably to avoid any dissatisfaction.
“All parties in the Perikatan government have the right to state their wish to contest in any seat.
“We will find a common point and if we can discuss well, there’ll be no uproar, ” he said at a press conference after the launch of Gerakan’s Ipoh community and service centre in Kampung Simee here yesterday.
He also said as of now, Bersatu has yet to begin talks with Umno over the matter.
“Claims that Bersatu are demanding a majority of the seats it contested in the last general election are not true but we are open to discussion, ” he said when asked to comment on a statement by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad calling on those who had won a seat under the Umno banner but then defected to other parties to return those seats to the party for GE15.
In Perak, the Larut, Bagan Serai and Bukit Gantang parliamentary seats as well as the Tualang Sekah and Sungai Manik state seats were won by Umno in GE14.
On reports that he would be appointed as the next Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd (KTMB) chairman, Faizal said he has yet to be formally notified of the appointment.
“I heard there was such a discussion during a Cabinet meeting, but I have yet to have an opportunity to discuss it with the Prime Minister.
“Personally, I would like to focus on political work, which is more my forte, and to prepare Bersatu for the general election.
“But if it is requested by the Prime Minister, if it is something that I should do for the people, then I will accept it, ” he said, adding that the job would be a good challenge for him.
