KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Former Umno lawmaker Tan Sri Annuar Musa wished Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi "good luck” in the latter’s wish to dominate in three of the six seats that will be holding elections this year.

The former Keterah MP who was sacked from Umno last December said Ahmad Zahid has a "duty” to galvanise the troops but added that voters in Selangor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan already know who they will vote for in the elections, the New Straits Times reported late last night.

"It is not wrong when he made that statement. Even in Kelantan, [Umno] vowed to seize the state for the past 30 years, but keep losing every election.

"So, even this one [state elections], God willing, he will lose as well.

"However, to me, that is his duty to say that in his speech, because it is what members want to hear.

"I respect that because he wants to boost the confidence of his people. [So] Good luck, a good statement,” Annuar, who founded a non-governmental organisation called Muafakat Nasional (MN) after his sacking, was quoted as telling reporters in Seremban last night after a talk there.

The former secretary-general of the Barisan Nasional coalition anchored by Umno was responding to Ahmad Zahid’s speech in the party’s general assembly over the weekend.

In his speech, Ahmad Zahid asserted Umno’s commitment to defend the three states held by Pakatan Harapan, its current partners in the federal unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and vowed to break Perikatan Nasional’s hold in the other three states also facing elections — Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan.

Annuar was also reported reiterating that his MN is not a political party and will not participate in the coming state elections.

"MN is not a political party. It is an NGO registered under the Registrar of Societies officially and legally.

"There is no question of MN participating in the election. MN is set up to carry out activities that are in line with its constitution,” the 67-year-old was quoted as saying.

Separately, national news agency Bernama reported that Annuar has been accepted into PAS last night and accepted his membership certificate from the Islamist party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang during a rally in Seremban.