BESUT, July 1- The Besut Umno division will submit to the prime minister, a list of potential local candidates acceptable to the people, for selection to stand in the upcoming Kuala Besut state seat by-election.
Division chairman Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (photo) said Umno had many eligible candidates originating from Kuala Besut and the choice would be made by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak before the announcement of the by-election date by the Election Commission.
“We have likeable candidates with calibre who include educators, religious experts and administrative officers.”
He said this at a press conference after a by-election coordinating meeting with Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and the state Umno Liaison Committee at the Damai Beach Resort, here, yesterday. Idris, who is also Second Education Minister, said Besut was still a rural area with the majority of the residents being fishermen who were simple-minded and friendly.
“But they know who they prefer and if they don’t like the candidate, it’ll be difficult for that individual to influence them. If they know and like the person, they will easily cooperate with him in whatever matter.”
So, he said, it was important for Umno to ensure that the candidate would win in the by-election with a bigger majority than that won by the late Dr A. Rahman Mokhtar who died on Wednesday.
In the recent 13th general election, Dr Rahman defeated Napisah Ismail from PAS with a 2,434-vote majority.
Idris hoped the people of Kuala Besut would choose the BN candidate to avoid problems for the ruling state government in developing the constituency.
– BERNAMA
