IPOH, Apr 24 – The Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) has nominated 32 new faces to contest for 59 state seats and another seven for the 24 parliamentary seats in the 14th general election (GE14). 

Perak BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir, when announcing the list of the Perak BN candidates at the menteri besar’s official residence, said eight incumbents from 31 state seats who won in the GE13 were replaced with the new faces. Zambry, who is also Perak Menteri Besar, said the Perak BN would also field 13 women candidates, namely, for 10 state and three parliamentary seats.

“In the GE14, UMNO will contest in 38 state seats, MCA (15), Gerakan and MIC contesting for three seats each. For the parliamentary seats, UMNO will contest in 13 seats, MCA (six), Gerakan (three) and MIC (two). The nominated candidates are from various backgrounds, including professionals, leaders at the grassroots level, recognised by the top party leadership,” he said.

Zambry said 30.5% of the nominated Perak BN candidates were from the younger generation, contesting for the state seats and 16.6% for the parliamentary seats. “We hope this combination will be able to establish a solid working team,” he said.

He said all the nominated candidates have gone through deliberations at all levels, from the grassroots level, before they were being scrutinised at the state level and later being approved and selected at the party leadership level.

“All the nominated candidates have gone through the screening process and most importantly they are accepted by the party members starting from the grassroots level and being endorsed by the party leadership,” he said. Zambry reminded BN supporters to give unwavering support to the candidates.

“The success of these candidates will enable the BN to continue the agenda of prospering the people and the state. I hope the people will support BN candidates because if they are elected then they will form the BN working team who put the interest of the people first, creating a peaceful and successful Perak and to ensure that nobody will be left behind,” he said.

He also announced that Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Home Minister, would defend the Bagan Datuk parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, Zambry will be contesting for the Lumut parliamentary seat as well as to defend the Pangkor state seat.

MCA secretary-general, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister II, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan was dropped from the Tanjung Malim parliamentary seat and he was replaced by Perak MCA chairman Datuk Mah Hang Soon who is also incumbent for the Chenderiang state seat. Meanwhile, former Finance Minister II Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah candidacy was also announced and he would defend the Tambun parliamentary seat.

Other candidates were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin who would defend the Larut parliamentary seat while Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz to defend the Padang Rengas parliamentary seat. Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, is to defend the Teluk Intan parliamentary seat he won in the by-election in 2014.

Also nominated were Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman to defend the Pasir Salak parliamentary seat while Deputy Home Minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong was renominated for the Kampar parliamentary seat. 

In the meantime, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri S. K Devamany will defend the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat and Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan to defend the Tapah parliamentary seat.

National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) chairman Datuk Shamsul Anuar Nasarah is to defend the Lenggong parliamentary seat. Meanwhile, Perak State Secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan, is one of the new faces fielded by the Perak BN and he will contest for the Parit Buntar parliamentary seat.

Other new faces were two ‘penghulu’ (local community leaders), namely, Mohamad Zuraimi Razali and Shahrul Nizam Razali to contest for the Manong and Kuala Kurau state seats respectively. Perak UMNO youth chief Khairul Shahril Mohamed is another new face for the GE14 and he would contest for the Bota state seat, while Perak Gerakan chairman Soo Kay Ping is to contest for the Aulong state seat.

For women candidates, Perak UMNO Wanita chief Datuk Rusnah Kassim would defend Behrang state seat, MCA Wanita chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie to move from the Padang Serai parliamentary seat to Gopeng parliamentary seat, Gerakan Wanita chief Datuk Tan Lian Hoe to move from the Taiping parliamentary seat to Jalong state seat and MIC Wanita deputy chief T. Thangarani is the new candidate to contest for the Buntong state seat. — Bernama

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