KULIM, April 28 – The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the Padang Serai parliamentary constituency and its two state seats, Lunas and Merbau Pulas, are deemed capable leaders although facing a tough fight in the 13th general election.
Kedah BN deputy chairman Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir admitted that BN was facing a stiff challenge in these areas but the BN candidates would be worthy elected representatives if voted in.
“They are capable as one had served as a deputy minister while the others hold important posts in their party, and coupled with the hardworking BN election machinery, they have a good chance of winning.”
Mukhriz said this after closing the Satu Litar@Kedah (One Circuit@Kedah) programme at the public field in Taman Mutiara, Sungai Kob, near here, yesterday evening.
BN’s Datuk Heng Seai Kei is facing a five-cornered tussle for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat. The Kedah-born Heng is also the national Wanita MCA vice-chairman.
Her challengers are Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president N. Surendran, Hamidi Abu Hassan (Barisan Jemaah Islamiah Se-Malaysia – Berjasa), Othman Wawi (Independent) and the incumbent, N. Gobalakrishnan, who is standing as an Independent this time after he quit PKR.
For the Lunas state seat, Kedah MIC chairman S. Ananthan will be challenged by Azman Nazaruddin from PKR, R. Vasanthi (Independent) and N. Prabakaran (Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air – KITA).
The Merbau Pulas state seat, meanwhile, will see two women candidates facing off – Datuk Marlia Abdul Latif from BN and Datuk Siti Ashah Ghazali from PAS.
Earlier, in his speech, Mukhriz repeated the promise made by the prime minister when launching the Satu Litar@Kedah rally programme on Jan 15, that a motorcycle racing circuit would be built in Kedah if BN managed to recapture the
state.
“The location for the racing circuit will be decided by the Kedah State Youth Council,” he said.
– BERNAMA
