Tok Pa says retired from politics, not contesting in any polls

SHAH ALAM: Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed confirms that he will not be contesting in any election as he has decided to retire from politics.

The former Jeli MP for Jeli, who is affectionately known as Tok Pa, also said that he had given up his membership and position within Bersatu since September 2023, Malay language daily Sinar Harian reported.

“Referring to the statement by Kelantan Bersatu chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Mohd Nor, as reported by a news portal, I once again repeat the statement I made on Nov 2, 2022, that I have retired from politics after deciding not to contest in the 15th General Election (GE15),” he said in a statement on Friday (June 28), Sinar Harian reported.

A news portal had reported on Thursday (June 27) that Kelantan Bersatu was prepared to give way to influential politicians, including Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Mustapa to contest in the Gua Musang and Jeli parliamentary seats if a by-election is held in the future.

According to Kamaruddin, the move to send these two politicians to the Dewan Rakyat, however, would first require the approval of the Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional leadership.

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday set the by-election for the Nenggiri State Assembly seat (DUN) N43 in Kelantan for Aug 17.

This follows the unexpected vacancy after the incumbent, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, was declared to have lost his membership in Bersatu on June 13.

EC chairman Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun announced that the nomination day is scheduled for Aug 3.

Earlier, the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Thursday dismissed an application by the former Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, who is also Gua Musang MP, for a temporary injunction to stop the by-election for the state seat.

Besides Azizi, five other MP who also had their Bersatu membership terminated for supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr. Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datik Dr. Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).

Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari was also terminated from Bersatu for expressing his support for Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

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Keywords: Mustapa Mohamad, Tok Pa, Retired, Politics, Election, Kelantan