IPOH, April 21 – The move by former Wanita Umno vice-head Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim to contest the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat will not affect Barisan Nasional (BN) in Perak at the 13th General Election (GE13), Perak BN Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, said.
“BN is not concerned about the chances of winning although she (Kamilia) is contesting there and we will fight,” he said.
He expressed confidence that BN would be able to defend the seat held by incumbent and former Wanita Umno Head Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for six terms beginning with the 1986 election. Rafidah said she believed Kamilia’s action would not affect Wanita Umno’s election machinery and the BN but instead further strengthen the women wing’s resolve and possibly lead to her losing her deposit.
Kamilia, 61, has sacrificed Umno’s long-held principles of its struggle when she ignored the grassroots’ wishes and that of the leadership who picked another candidate to contest the seat. Before this, BN offered her the Bukit Chandan state seat but she rejected the offer and was adamant in contesting for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat as an independent.
BN nominated Datuk Wan Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad to contest the seat who would also be challenged by PAS candidate Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah. In the upcoming polls on May 5, Perak would see stiff competition when several independent candidates would be vying for state seats and 22 independents contesting parliamentary seats compared with only four independents in the 2008 election.
Three states seat — Buntong, Hutan Melintang and Behrang as well as the Tapah parliamentary seat would see a four-cornered fight while 19 state seats and six parliamentary seats would see a three-cornered contest. Zambry, who is also Perak Menteri Besar, would defend the Pangkor state seat while four Cabinet ministers who would be defending their parliamentary seats including Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (Tambun), Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Bagan Datoh), Transport Minister Datuk Seri Kong Cho Ha (Lumut) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohammed Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas).
People’s Progressive Party (PPP) President, Datuk M.Kayveas would contest the Pasir Bedamar state seat. Perak BN would contest in all the 24 parliamentary and 59 state seats in GE13 on May 5. A total of 1,406,734 voters, based on the voter registration list gazetted on April 11 would decide the political future of the silver state on May 5.
BERNAMA
