TANGKAK: Ledang Umno is hoping that the Gambir state seat will be given to Umno in the upcoming state polls.

       Its division chief Datuk Hamim Samuri said that in 2004, the seat was given to MIC to contest as the previous Kota Tinggi division chief Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar refused to make way for a seat to be given to MIC.

       "We gave in and abided by the party decision taken by our then mentri besar Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman and gave the seat to MIC to contest," he said, adding that he was confident of a win if the seat was contested by an Umno candidate.

       Hamim was speaking during a meet-the-people season and launch of the Barisan Nasional election machinery here on Friday (Feb 11).

       Also present at the event were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.

       In GE14, MIC's Datuk M. Asojan lost to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) in the Gambir state seat.

       Muhyiddin has indicated his intention not to defend his seat at the upcoming polls.