Amizar Abu Adam said Adnan was still clearly an “Umno man” despite his remarks, as the former Pahang menteri besar had been helpful in pulling support for BN.

“This shows that he is truly an Umno man and would never abandon the party. They (Perikatan Nasional) are just taking advantage of his remarks,” he told FMT, when met at an army veterans’ programme in Kampung Bukit Gajah yesterday.

In August, a video of Adnan claiming that Umno was “nearing its end” had gone viral. He made the remarks outside the Kuala Lumpur High Court after purportedly attending a case involving PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin.

When Muhyiddin asked him to clarify what he meant, Adnan merely responded: “There’s a lot to the story”.

Amizar said Adnan, who held the Pelangai seat for eight terms, has been supporting his campaign.

“He’s no stranger to Pelangai and he has done a lot for the people here. Pelangai and ‘Long Nan’ (Adnan) are inseparable,” he said.

The Pelangai by-election tomorrow will see a three-cornered fight among Amizar, PN candidate Kasim Samat and independent candidate Haslihelmy DM Zulhasli.

It is being held following the death of Umno assemblyman and exco member Johari Harun in the plane crash near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam on Aug 17.

In the 15th general election, Johari defended the seati with a majority of over 4,000 votes.