After initially opposing any move to hand the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat in Perak to another Barisan Nasional party, the Umno division today relented and pledged support for the Gerakan candidate.

However, it stressed that it wanted the seat back in the next general election.

Bukit Gantang Umno chief Mat Isa Ismail said although the party had to sacrifice the seat, it considered the matter as a divine test.

"We consider it as a test of God although we're disappointed and unhappy as we have to sacrifice our parliament seat to another party, but BN's victory is more important.

"Although we've to abide by the party leadership's decision, the division will hold to the promise that it will pave the way for another party only for this term.

"We want the seat to be returned to Umno in the next general election," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Mat Isa added that if other parties requested for the seat during the next polls, the division will strongly object.

The seat was previously held by former deputy foreign minister Dr Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan from Umno who had expressed his intention not to seek re-election.

Hot issue

The seat became a hot issue when it was initially given to PPP and its president M Kayveas was originally slated to contest.

This immediately triggered a protest from the Umno division, which warned that it could not guarantee a BN victory should the seat be given to PPP.

On Thursday, Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli Ghazali announced that the BN leadership had made a change and offered the seat to Gerakan.

In return, Kayveas was given Gerakan's Taiping parliamentary seat.

The battle for Bukit Gantang will be an all women affair, with BN fielding Perak Gerakan Wanita chief Tan Lian Hoe against PAS Mulimat deputy chief Dr Lo'Lo Mohd Ghazali (left).

Meanwhile, Mat Isa said he had intended to contest in Bukit Gantang but was prepared to sacrifice on the orders of the party leadership.

"I'm not asking for anything but to return the seat to Umno in the next general election," he reiterated.