BN Candidates: Tanjong Karang, Kuala Nerus and three others were not mentioned

KUALA LUMPUR - Five parliamentary candidates were not announced by Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during last night’s 15th General Election (GE15) candidates announcement ceremony.

The seats were Tanjong Karang, Jempol, Kuala Pilah, Tumpat and Kuala Nerus.

Party insiders told Sinar Daily that Tanjong Karang incumbent MP Tan Sri Noh Omar was still in negotiations with Zahid, with insiders saying Noh was still “pleading and begging till the final hours”.

“Seems like he managed to delay his fate,” one source said last night.

Another source said the Kuala Nerus seat was also still under negotiations as the top leadership were in communications with incumbent and former Pas leader Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Razali, who has been an advocate of Muafakat Nasional.

However, he said there nothing was final or official just yet; “it’s just talks”.

As for the Jempol seat, it was earlier reported that its incumbent Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif had been dropped.

Last night Zahid announced nearly 160 candidates from three BN component parties; Umno, MCA and MIC, to contest in the Peninsula.

Candidates in Sabah will likely be announced today.

Despite alleged requests for Zahid to stay out of the spotlight due to his court cases, he will be defending his Bagan Datuk seat while Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will be making his debut in the Rembau parliamentary seat, replacing Khairy Jamaluddin.

Khairy will contest Sungai Buloh and caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri will defend his seat in Bera, Pahang.