Three BN reps to contest state and parliamentary seats

PETALING JAYA: At least two Barisan Nasional mentris besar and a federal minister will be fielded to contest a parliamentary seat, besides defending their state seats.

Johor Mentri Besar and state Barisan chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will be contesting the Pasir Gudang parliamentary and the Permas state seats.

This is the first time a Johor MB will also be contesting a parliamentary seat simultaneously.

Khaled held the Pasir Gudang seat for two terms before contesting the Permas state seat in the 2013 general election.

The announcement was made by Khaled at the Johor Umno liaison headquarters yesterday.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir is expected to defend his Pangkor state seat and also vie for the Lumut parliamentary seat.

He was quoted last month as saying that it was not an issue for a Barisan candidate to be fielded in two seats, noting that leaders from both sides of the political divide had done so.

Zambry is expected to announce the Barisan line-up today.

Kelantan Barisan chief Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed announced at the state Umno headquarters yesterday that he would defend both the Jeli parliamentary seat and Air Lanas state seats.

The International Trade and Industry Minister is being lined up to take over as Kelantan MB should Barisan wrest power from the PAS state government which has ruled since 1990.

Traditionally, Barisan allows a candidate to contest in only one seat in the peninsula.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali of PKR and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng of DAP are both MPs and state assemblymen.