KUALA LUMPUR (July 16): Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis, who has been suspended by Umno, has joined PAS.

The announcement was made by PAS secretary general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan at a news conference in the Parliament building on Tuesday, where Jailani was also present.

According to Takiyuddin, Jailani became a member of the party in June last year, after submitting his application on June 10.

Therefore, the party sec gen stated that Jailani would not need to vacate his seat, as he was accepted into the Islamic party just before Melaka's anti-hopping law was enacted in July last year.

When questioned by the press about the timing of the announcement, Takiyuddin cited party strategy as the reason for the delay.

Jailani, a two-term Rembia assemblyman and former state executive councillor, was initially elected on a PKR ticket in the 2018 general election with a 1,814-vote majority.

He later aligned with Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional (BN), contributing to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan-led state government in March 2020.

In the 2021 Melaka state election, he successfully defended his Rembia seat under a BN ticket, winning with a 1,814-vote majority in a five-cornered fight.

He was spotted attending opposition programmes during the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections, which led to his suspension from Umno last year.