MUAR, Sept 5 – The Barisan Nasional (BN) will announce its candidate for the Pengkalan Kubor state by-election in Kelantan on Sept 10 in Tumpat, BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said here on Friday.
Muhyiddin, who is the BN director of by-election, said the Kelantan Umno Liaison Committee was shortlisting the potential candidates.Kelantan Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed informed me that he would submit the names to BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a day or two.
“I will make the announcement in Tumpat on Sept 10,” he told reporters after opening the delegates meetings of the Pagoh Umno Division women, youth and puteri wings at the Pagoh Sports Complex here.Muhyiddin, who is also Umno deputy president, said the party would take into account the views of the electorate and pick the most suitable and qualified candidate.
The Election Commission has set Sept 13 for nomination and Sept 25 for polling.The by-election is being held following the death of the three-term assemblyman, Datuk Noor Zahidi Omar, 57, of the BN on Aug 20.
Noor Zahidi had retained the seat in the last general election, held in May last year, by beating Saharun Ibrahim of PKR and independent candidate Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary by a majority of 1,736 votes.
Asked about PKR’s contention that the menteri besar issue it was embroiled in Selangor would not undermine the party’s chances in the by-election, Muhyiddin said that was what PKR thought.”The voters in Pengkalan Kubor may also take into account what is happening there (in Selangor) and the issue will have some implication,” he said.
– BERNAMA
