Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, who quit PAS early last month, has been coy about his political future.

But now he says he will make an announcement on his next political move in "45 days," starting from today.

When met in Alor Setar, Kedah, Mahfuz seems to have made up his mind about which party he prefers to join, but is keeping his decision close to his chest.

He reiterated that he has drawn up a shortlist of his choices, but was adamant it does not include Umno.

"Not at all, not even a bit. I could join DAP for all you know," he said.

After serving his constituency for three terms - 1999, 2008 and 2013 - Mahfuz said he is even mulling not contesting at all in this year's "mother of all elections", the 14th national polls, which must be called by Aug 24.

"I do not have to be a candidate, I can still support Pakatan Harapan, become its advisor, and assist in its election strategy in the coming polls," Mahfuz told Malaysiakini.

"Whatever it is, I will announce it in 45 days," he said.

Asked why 45 days, or on March 17, Mahfuz declined to comment except to hint that he may be in Parliament during that time.

Asked again what his criteria were for choosing a party, he replied, "All parties are the same, in terms of their strength in Harapan.

"The important thing is that, if I were to decide to contest, I would consider the cooperation between all parties in Pokok Sena.

"Generally, all parties seem to be present in the constituency, and they seem to cooperate well with one another," Mahfuz said, not giving away his secret.

However, since his quit announcement on New Year's Day, Mahfuz has been traveling to other states – Johor and Kelantan – to meet up with his former PAS peers who are now in Amanah.

This has intensified speculation that he would be joining Amanah, a PAS splinter set up by progressive members who had quit the Islamist party.

Rumour is that he would follow in the footsteps of another Kedah PAS elected representative –  Pengkalan Kundur assemblyperson Pharolrazi Zawawi, who also quit PAS to join Amanah in 2015.

But others speculate that since Mahfuz is a strong proponent of Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamed becoming Harapan's PM candidate, he would eventually join his former colleague, Anak Bukit assemblyperson Amiruddin Hamzah, who defected to Bersatu last year.

Unfazed by insults

Mahfuz's departure from PAS was not well-received by his party, with his president Abdul Hadi Awang dismissing it by saying "Mahfuz was long dead, but just buried."

In his resignation letter to PAS, Mahfuz's reasons for leaving included the party's actions in the Islamic struggle, including the controversial bill to amend the Syariah Court Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (or RUU355), and its neutrality in Prime Minister Najib Razak's Budget 2018, all of which he said "were a betrayal of the people".

Mahfuz is unrattled by Hadi's remark, and went on to say that his voters, including those from PAS, have understood and accepted his move from the party.

He has been reaching out to PAS grassroots members to explain the reasons why he quit the party, saying it was a well-thought decision, not one made in haste.

"I go to the ground, meet about 20 to 30 people each time, and have explained the whole scenario to them. I must say, their response is encouraging," Mahfuz said.

"I tell them, especially PAS supporters, that I have only left the party, not my friends."

But PAS continues to be in a "denial mode", Mahfuz claimed, saying they have refused to admit that support for the party is dwindling, even in the Malay heartlands such as rural Kedah.

"Many have left quietly. They do not want to publicise their departure as they have no posts in the party, and they do not want to invite unnecessary attention," he explained.

"Some have filled up Amanah, Bersatu or PKR membership forms, while others choose to remain in PAS, but keep a low profile, and have stopped from participating in the party's activities or election machinery," he added.

"All these will definitely benefit Harapan," he said.

'Crazy to join Umno'

On him vowing never to join Umno, Mahfuz said he often meets his rivals in kenduri (wedding parties), where they would jokingly tell him, "Come join us."

His reply would always be, "Only mad people would join Umno.

"When they ask me why, I would tell them, who wants to join Umno? Even a hardcore leader like Mahathir has left the party."