LANGKAWI: Umno is not concerned over former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to defend his Langkawi Parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Langkawi Umno division deputy chief Nor Saidi Nayan said the 97-year-old Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) chairman has the right to take part in the country's democratic election process.
"Langkawi Umno division if of the opinion that we should celebrate the concept of democracy.
"Anyone is free to contest in any seat they wish, including the Langkawi parliamentary seat," he said in a statement today.
Nor Saidi added that the Langkawi Umno division was focusing on easing the burdens of people who were still struggling to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic impact.
"At the same time, all 103 Umno branches in Langkawi are preparing for the Umno division annual delegates meeting scheduled this coming weekend," he said.
On the GE15 preparation, Nor Saidi the Umno division was working to further strengthen cooperation among all wings at the division level down to the grassroots.
"Based on the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the party machinery, we are confident that we are ready to face (any opponent) in GE15.
"We are also confident and believe that the voters in Langkawi will choose a candidate from a party with a proven service track record and provides stability for a better future," he said.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir, who is also the pro-tem chairman of Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) four-party pact, announced that Pejuang had decided that he would be defending the Langkawi parliamentary seat in the GE15.
However, Dr Mahathir said he was not contesting in the general polls as Pejuang's prime ministerial candidate in GE15, at least for the moment.