Speaking to reporters after officiating the opening of the Asian Dermatology and Aesthetic Medicine Convention Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the health minister said his concern about GE15 goes beyond the timing of the national polls, Berita Harian reported.

“My concern now is that there are no more seats available (for me) to contest,” he was quoted as saying.

He was asked about his position on GE15, with media reporting on Thursday that the Cabinet was divided on the timing for the polls.

It was previously reported that Khairy – who has been the Rembau MP since 2008 – will make way for Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan at GE15.

Mohamad, who is Rembau Umno chief, previously said he intended to contest a parliamentary seat so that he had a role at the federal level.

While he did not say which seat he would contest, Khairy was reported to have said that he had been given a message by the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar “to get out of the way”.

Mohamad is the incumbent in the Rantau state seat, one of four seats under the Rembau parliamentary constituency.

Khairy was also reported to have said that he would abide by Umno’s decision on which seat he should contest, adding that in the “worst case scenario”, he would not contest in GE15.

He was previously linked to the Port Dickson and Seremban seats in Negeri Sembilan and the Alor Setar seat in Kedah.