KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has urged his party mates not to leave just because they no longer hold office nor have been nominated to stand for elections.

The Pontian MP said those expelled from Umno or had their memberships revoked are free to join other political parties, Berita Harian reported last night.

"They obtained ministerial posts on Barisan Nasional's and Umno's ticket. Looks great from the image aspect, but when they are not nominated, they make the decision to oppose the party.

"Don't, because you are not nominated, then you want to leave Umno. I hope friends who intend to leave the party don't do it,” he was quoted as telling reporters in Pontian, Johor.

The deputy finance minister said he had heard rumours that some former Umno leaders who had previously held government positions, including in the Cabinet, intended to join the Opposition parties just so to continue their political careers.

The Opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) has made no secret of its efforts to court former Umno leaders in the run-up to the elections in six states.

PN deputy secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan claimed on May 18 that at least 10 ex-Umno leaders would be entering the Opposition coalition, naming Tan Sri Annuar Musa as one of them.

But Annuar, a former Umno minister, has yet to personally confirm his entry or application to date despite having been seen mingling with leaders from PAS and Bersatu, two of the three PN component parties.

Khairy Jamaluddin who was sacked from Umno last January has also been courted to join Bersatu, with the party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin even offering him a spot in its supreme council.

The former Rembau MP who was fielded as Umno’s candidate for Sungai Buloh and lost in last November’s general election has also been mum about continuing his political career.