KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 16 — Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim is reportedly keen to run for a state assembly seat, preferably in Selangor where he currently lives.

The former Umno politician who is now with PAS said he has offered to assist the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition in the coming polls for six states, news portal Malaysiakini reported late last night.

"My presence is to help [PN] and at the same time strengthen the coalition, but if it would cause any problems, I won’t help. No problem for me.

"My principle is simple. If they need me, I am ready to help,” he was quoted saying.

The 71-year-old was sacked from Umno for running as an independent to defend his Perlis federal constituency in the 15th general election last November.

Shahidan, a former Perlis menteri besar from 1995 to 2008, was also reported accusing the coalition government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of discrimination in its lopsided funding to MPs, giving more to those in government compared to those in the Opposition.

He claimed it has made it difficult for the Opposition MPs to help their constituents.

"If you want to be a government just to get back at the previous administration, you might as well not be a government

"Harapan in its manifesto said they would give equal funding to all MPs but not only did this not happen, the funds were not even [distributed] evenly,” he was quoted as saying, referring to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition chaired by Anwar.

Selangor, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Kedah are expected to hold their state elections by the middle of the year.

Out of the six states, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Penang are currently under PH and the remaining three are under PN.

The other states in the country — Perlis, Perak, Pahang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak — have held their elections before GE15 or concurrently.