“Many want me to contest. If we have the desire to serve, then we must have a desire to be a candidate.

“That is my desire. However, it is up to the party to decide on candidates,” the caretaker communications and multimedia minister, and former three-term MP told reporters after an event here today.

Earlier, in his speech, the Ketereh Umno division chief said he wanted to contest in GE15. He has stood for state and parliamentary elections eight times, winning five times.

However, Annuar had come under criticism from some Umno members and leaders for his supposed Bersatu-friendly stance. In January 2021, he was stripped off his Barisan Nasional secretary-general role.

Earlier this year, it was reported that he was among the Umno leaders who were not in favour of early elections, raising questions about his future in Umno.

Annuar has served as the Ketereh MP since 2013.