BARISAN NASIONAL MAY NAME CANDIDATES THIS WEEK, SAYS KU NAN
List will be made known a week to 10 days before nomination day, says Ku Nan
BARISAN Nasional is expected to announce its candidates for the 14th General Election (GE14) this week. BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the list would be announced between a week and 10 days before nomination day on April 28, but added that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak had yet to set an exact date.
Speculation is rife that the announcement will be made on Wednesday.
Tengku Adnan also denied claims that the candidate list would keep changing.
“This is a perception of those who don’t understand how we work. It will not keep changing.
“We want candidates who the people want and like, not what the party or I like. We do screenings to ensure that we field the most suitable candidates.”
Tengku Adnan, who is federal territories minister, said this after the launch of the Education Quality Award programme at the Federal Territories Education Department yesterday.
In Sydney last month, Najib told Malaysian media that he would be breaking convention by naming BN’s election candidates earlier than usual.
He had said that for GE14, he would announce the coalition’s candidates “much earlier... but not that early”.
“The norm is for the names to be announced 48 hours or three days before nomination day, but we will do it earlier this time, but not too early,” he had said.
On the swapping of seats between BN component parties, Tengku Adnan said the move was made based on feedback from the people who wanted certain representatives in their areas.
“Perhaps some MCA seats will be given to Umno, Gerakan seats given back to Umno or Umno seats given to MCA, Gerakan and MIC.”
He said BN adopted a concept that allowed people to choose representatives they like.
“When we conduct analyses and find that the request is reasonable, the component parties will deliberate on the matter and reach a consensus.”
On the actions of some Umno Youth members who allegedly took down party flags in Wangsa Maju following speculation that the parliamentary seat would be given to MCA, Tengku Adnan said the party would investigate the matter, including checking closed-circuit television camera recordings in the next few days.
“There are laws. If they are found guilty, action can be taken.
“They have claimed that the party flags were taken down by DBKL (City Hall). I’ve asked, and they said they did not do so.
“We have party ethics. Please comply. We have not decided on the Wangsa Maju seat, so why get worked up over it by believing unverified stories? Where is the wala (loyalty) and tabayyun (seeking truth)?”
He urged all political parties to get permission from the local authorities before putting up campaign materials, including flags, in the Federal Territories and not display them at unsuitable places, such as on trees or traffic lights.
“Failure to comply will result in the removal of the items.”