‘Fielding one candidate in parliamentary and state seats is a strategy’

The move to field a candidate in both parliamentary and state seats is a “strategy” rather than a lack of choices, says Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.

The Perak Mentri Besar said the national leadership was assessing potential candidates to win big in the coming general election.

“Barisan Nasional will look into and decide on the best way to win.

“So we would not discount this possibility. It’s nothing shocking but a normal process,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting yesterday.

In saying that it was a non-issue, Dr Zambry said although certain states had yet to see such a move before, it did not mean that it would not happen.

“Many leaders at the national level are being fielded in two seats such as Tok Pa (Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed) and those in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

Mustapa is Air Lanas state assemblyman and Jeli MP in Kelantan.

He said even Pakatan Harapan was also practising such a strategy, citing leaders like Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, Nga Kor Ming and Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.

On a separate matter, Dr Zambry said the full list of Barisan candidates for Perak had already been submitted to the central leadership.

“We are just waiting for the announcement to dissolve Parliament and go to war,” he said.

The talk is rife that Barisan will field several leaders for both Dewan Rakyat and state assembly seats in the most hotly contested polls ever.

Dr Zambry is tipped to contest the Lumut parliamentary seat, which his Pangkor state seat falls under.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin is also said to be defending Permas, and the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat.

Meanwhile, it is widely speculated that Perak MCA chairman and senior state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon will contest the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat and defend his Chenderiang state seat.

Other Opposition leaders with two seats are Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.