19 RENOMINATED BY BN
MB confident party will regain 15 state seats lost in the last general election
THE Terengganu Barisan Nasional nominated 19 incumbents and several new faces to contest the 14th General Election (GE14). What was more surprising, however, was the omission of the Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Seri Jailani Johari, who was not renominated for the Hulu Terengganu parliamentary constituency.
He was, instead, replaced by a “çomeback” candidate Datuk Rosol Wahid, who had once been the Ajil assemblyman for three terms — from 1999 to 2013.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, who is also Terengganu Umno state liaison chairman, remains the candidate for the state seat of Seberang Takir.
Those contesting not only comprised former senior officers in the civil service, including former Terengganu state secretary Dato Wan Nawawi Wan Ismail for the parliamentary constituency of Kuala Terengganu, but also motivational expert, Dr Tengku Asmadi Tengku Mohamad, as the candidate for the Kuala Nerus parliamentary seat.
Two former menteris besar of Terengganu,Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh and Datuk Seri Ahmad Said, also remained as candidates for the parliamentary seat of Besut and state seat for Kijal respectively.
As expected, Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Shabery Cheek will defend his Kemaman parliamentary seat.
After announcing the candidates at his residence, Seri Iman, here, Razif said he was confident the candidates would get back the 15 state seats lost in the last general election, besides retaining the 17 seats won by the BN.
“Similarly for the parliamentary seats, I am confident we can wrest the four seats while retaining the four seats won in the 13th General Election.
“As I have promised, we will have women candidates and I am confident of our women candidates, based on their experience, and I am also confident that both the women candidates will create history as elected representatives in the state of Terengganu,” he said.
Ahmad Razif said BN was using the inclusive concept in the selection of candidates and based on the wishes of the party grassroots themselves, but conceded that there could be dissatisfaction on the candidates nominated.
Besides Johari, others dropped were the member of parliament for Setiu, Che Mohamad Zulkifly Jusoh, who was replaced with Permaisuri assemblyman Datuk Mohamad Jidin Shafie.
Terengganu BN also named the Marang Wanita Umno head, who is also Wanita Umno Malaysia exco member, Toh Puan Zaitun Mat Amin, for the Bukit Payung state seat and Dungun Wanita Umno head Datuk Zainun Abu Bakar to contest the Sura state constituency.
Besides Tengku Asmadi and Wan Nawawi, there were 12 other new faces — Datuk Basir Ismail (Tepoh state seat); Salleh Othman (Wakaf Mempelam state seat); entrepreneur Toh Seng Cheng (Bandar state seat); and Datuk Mohd Sabri Alwi (Ladang state seat); Mohamad Nor Endot (Marang parlimentary seat); Datuk Saiful Bahri Datuk Baharuddin (Alor Limbat state seat); Wan Zaulkfli Wan Gati (Rantau Abang state seat); and, Paca state development officer Tengku Hamzah Tg. Deraman (Paka state seat).
Out of the 19 incumbents, only Mohamad Jidin has been changed to the Setiu parliamentary seat while the other two MPs and 16 assemblymen remained in their respective seats.
Incumbents contesting included Nawi Mohamad (Hulu Besut); Datuk Mohamad Pehimi Yusof (Jerteh); Mohd Mahdi Musa (Kota Putera); Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman (Kuala Besut); Mohd Iskandar Jaafar (Jabi); Datuk Sabri Mohd Nor (Langkap); Bazlan Abd Rahman (Batu Rakit).
Three candidates, who had unsuccessfully contested in earlier elections, will contest in state assembly seats.
They are Yusof Awang Hitam (Manir), Datuk Nik Dir Nik Wan Ku (Rhu Rendang) and Tuan Arif Sahibu Fadilah Tuan Ahmad (Bukit Tunggal).