“We are still trying to persuade them (Umno leaders), as not all of them back PH (Pakatan Harapan),” Hadi said.

Umno, the Barisan Nasional lynchpin, had rejected any cooperation with PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim and DAP before the 15th general election last November.

However, it decided to join forces with them in the unity government, with Anwar as the prime minister, after a hung parliament.

At a ceramah in Kemaman last night, Hadi, who is also PN’s deputy chairman, said Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar was named PN’s candidate for the by-election as part of the coalition’s goal to form the next federal government.

He said the Dec 2 Kemaman by-election was not just about the parliamentary seat, but was of great significance to the country.

“This is (an opportunity) to add to and defend the Malay seats that PN has,” he said, adding that Samsuri would be able to strengthen PN’s standing at the federal level.

Samsuri will face BN’s Raja Affandi Raja Noor, the former defence forces chief, in a straight fight.

The by-election was called after an election court annulled the victory of PAS candidate Che Alias Hamid in GE15. The court held that the distribution of government aid to voters during the campaign period constituted election bribery.