BN candidates for GE14 finalised: Zahid

BAGAN DATUK: The list of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates contesting in the 14th General Election (GE14) throughout the country has been completed and finalised, said BN deputy chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pix).
According to Ahmad Zahid, who is the Deputy Prime Minister, there were efforts by several individuals and groups who continued to lobby and urge for changes to be made but their requests would not be entertained.
He explained that BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak had fully finalised the list of candidates and letters of candidacy for all candidates had also been signed and handed over to the candidates concerned.
"The names of candidates for Parliamentary and State seats have been finalised and confirmed by Datuk Seri Najib as BN chairman, thus all state BN chairmen throughout the country have announced the candidates.
"Although there are pressures, we will not entertain them or revamp the list given because the list of BN candidates (for State Assemblies and Parliament) we have finalised 100%," he said.
He disclosed this at a press conference at the Bagan Datuk Water Front, here which was also attended by BN candidates for the State Assembly seat for Rungkup, Datuk Shahrul Zaman Yahya and Bagan Datuk District Officer Datuk Hamzah Husin.
Ahmad Zahid added that what was important now was that all the selected candidates must work hard to get down on the ground to meet with the grassroots to ensure victory for the seats they represented.
Meanwhile, commenting on the possibility of BN members filling up the forms of candidacy on Independent tickets tomorrow following dissatisfaction for not being nominated by the party, he said such individuals would automatically be excluded from the BN.
Ahmad Zahid said that it was normal that there would be dissatisfaction following the announcement of the candidacy list, but this should be accepted with an open heart.
"We (BN) select the best out of the good people. The same goes for the opposition party. So, those wishing to be independent candidates from the component parties or even Umno itself should know that the party constitution or regulations stipulate that those becoming Independent candidates automatically lose their party membership," he added. — Bernama