KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 27 — Datuk A. Kadir Jasin claimed today that there is a possibility of up to 40 Umno MPs jumping ship to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).

The PPBM Supreme Council member said the MPs have been meeting party chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to discuss the matter, but have not decided yet.

"However, we have yet to make any decision about accepting them as our party members,” Kadir was quoted saying by The Star in Johor Baru.

Kadir also confirmed that the matter was discussed among the party during its leadership meeting last night.

Jeli MP Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed had joined PPBM last night right after the meeting.

Mustapa, who was also Kelantan Barisan Nasional chairman, quit Umno on September 18 after being a member for 40 years.

However, Kadir did not elaborate on the identities of the 40 MPs that he mentioned.

Umno currently has 48 MPs left, down from the 54 following the 14th general election.

The former newsman also stressed that said Umno MPs can only join PPBM if they quit Umno first to be independent MPs, and there will be no guarantee that they would be accepted as a member.

"They should resign and join us as an individuals and not as a group,” he reportedly said.