KUALA LUMPUR — Incumbent Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim claimed today that the Barisan Nasional operation centres in his seat have shut down, appearing to confirm speculation he was being dropped as a candidate.
In remarks suggesting the threat of a boycott during the campaign for the 15th general election, the caretaker federal territories minister said the development was unprecedented in the history of the coalition.
“Today’s a very, very sad day. All of BN’s operation centres in Arau are closed and the flag has been lowered.
“For the first time in history,” he said in a Facebook post.
Earlier today, Malay Mail reported sources as saying that Shahidan and another minister, Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, have been dropped as BN candidates ahead of nomination on November 5.
The sources also intimated that other ministers could also be left out, including one omission that would surprise the BN coalition.
BN is scheduled to announce its candidates tomorrow night, but the various Umno leaders have disputed the event, indicating that the existing infighting in the party was worsening in the last-minute jockeying for positions in the November 19 poll.
Such rumours have intensified since Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s warning on Saturday for “big headed” leaders in the party to finally realise that all they were and have were because of Umno.
While Ahmad Zahid had faced insubordination and challenges to his leadership as part of the factional politics in Umno, he holds the trump card at the moment as the party president responsible for endorsing the candidate list for GE15. MM
GE15: Zahidi wants to defend Padang Besar seat
KUALA LUMPUR — Incumbent Padang Besar Member of Parliament Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin has expressed his desire to defend the seat in the 15th general election (GE15).
Zahidi, who is the Padang Besar Umno division chief, however, said it was up to the Umno leadership to decide based on the list of prospective candidates submitted by the divisional committee.
“I want to defend the seat but recently there were rumours that people from Kuala Lumpur are coming to contest in Padang Besar. But the Umno divisional committee is against fielding a parachute candidate.
“I will follow what the Umno divisional committee decides,” he said.
The Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister was speaking to reporters after a get-together with Persatuan Sahabat Penghibur Jalanan Malaysia here today.
— MALAY MAIL / Bernama
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