By sitting out the elections, he would pave the way for younger candidates, he said, as there were plenty of potential candidates from Perikatan Nasional to fill his shoes.

He added that he was sticking to his decision, six months ago, to take a break from politics.

“I have made it known that I want to take a break. I have served seven terms, one term in Ulu Kelang, three terms in Bukit Antarabangsa, and three terms in Gombak,” he told reporters at the PN Hari Raya open house here today.

Asked if he would contest if Bersatu wanted him to, Azmin said he would leave it to the wisdom of the coalition’s leaders. He added that there has been no official discussion on the matter.

Earlier today, FMT quoted a Bersatu source as saying that Azmin was likely to be fielded in Morib, a “safe” seat, instead of defending Bukit Antarabangsa.

Morib is a state seat in the Kuala Langat parliamentary constituency. In the general election of May 2018, Hasnul Baharuddin of Amanah won the state seat for a second term.

The source also said Azmin may also be considering Hulu Kelang, which he won in 1999 but lost to Barisan Nasional in 2004.

Azmin’s failure to defend the Gombak parliamentary seat in the 2022 elections is seen as the main reason he intends to move from Bukit Antarabangsa seat which he has held for three terms since 2008.

A former PKR deputy president, Azmin was defeated by Selangor PKR chief Amirudin Shari with a nearly 13,000-vote majority.

Separately, Azmin, who is PN information chief, said he was reliably informed that the Selangor state assembly would be dissolved on June 19. He did not elaborate.

Azmin also confirmed that eight former Umno leaders have joined PN. He refused to name them for their own safety. He said the names of those who joined the coalition would be revealed soon, possibly after Hari Raya Aidiladha.

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