A report in the Borneo Post quoted Ghapur as saying it was, therefore, ridiculous for LDP President Teo Chee Kang to refuse to “return” the Merotai state seat to Umno for the 14th general election.

“It is our right to claim the seat as the majority of the people in Merotai are members of Umno. We want their fate to be taken care of as it’s their voice and wish to be represented by Umno.

“However, we submit the claim to be decided by the BN leadership. LDP has no right to reject the claim because the party is not the BN leadership,” he was quoted as saying.

The report said Ghapur reiterated his warning that if the claim made by Umno Kalabakan was not successful, it would not help any candidate from any other BN party in the general election. It will only work for an Umno candidate.

Teo, who is the State’s Minister of Special Tasks, has ruled out the prospect of his party handing over the Merotai state seat to Umno.

He reiterated that the question of “returning” Merotai to Umno did not arise as it was a new seat created after the re-delineation exercise in 2004.

Merotai is held by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Pang Yuk Ming.