KUALA LUMPUR, March 27 — Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan jokingly told reporters today that he will be the party’s candidate as prime minister in the next general election.

However, he later backtracked by saying that any decision will be left to the party and he has no say in it.

"You’re talking to him now,” the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar known as Tok Mat said, when the question was posed to him during a press conference here.

"I'm just kidding. Whatever decisions are made, it is up to the party,” Mohamad then added.

The Rantau assemblyman also stressed in his keynote address that despite Umno being part of the ruling Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, the grand old party has not been the backbone of the government.

He said that during the 60 years reign of Barisan Nasional (BN), the party had a great reputation and no coalition has succeeded to emulate the formula of their governance.

"Realise or not, these scenarios actually gave Umno a unique opportunity to centralise as people’s government. Whether within Malays or non-Malay,” he said while launching the party’s wings general meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here today.