New blood in candidate line-up as BN eyes Kelantan

KOTA BHARU: Kelantan Barisan Nasional (BN) has beefed up its candidate line-up for the 14th general election (GE14) with 30 new faces as well as well-established names being proposed in a bid to wrest the state from the grips of PAS which has been in power since 1990.
Leading the charge is state BN chairman Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamad who will defend his Jeli parliamentary seat, along with four other incumbent MPs who will defend their respective seats – UMNO information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa (Ketereh), Tanah Merah UMNO chief Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang) and Gua Musang UMNO chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Gua Musang).
Two new faces being proposed were entrepreneur Fikhran Hamshi Mohamad Fatmi who will contest the Kota Bharu parliamentary seat and Pasir Mas UMNO Youth head Nor Azmawi Ab Rahman for the Pasir Mas Parliamentary seat, according to the list announced by Kelantan BN secretary Datuk Hanafi Mamat when the letter of candidacy was presented by Mustapa, here today.
Four candidates who were attempting a comeback for Parliamentary seats were entrepreneur Datuk Wan Johani Wan Hussin (Tumpat), Rantau Panjang UMNO chief Datuk Abdullah Mat Yassim (Rantau Panjang), Kubang Kerian UMNO head Datuk Seri Mohamad Abdul Ghani (Kubang Kerian) and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki (Pasir Puteh).
Two candidates who were renominated for Parliamentary seats were UMNO Bachok division head Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin (Bachok) and Pengkalan Chepa UMNO division head Datuk Zaluzi Sulaiman (Pengkalan Chepa), while the incumbent assemblyman for Dabong Datuk Ramzi Ab Rahman was transferred to contest the Kuala Krai Parliamentary seat.
For the State Assembly seats, BN is fielding 28 new faces namely the solitary MCA candidate Chua Hock Kuan in Kota Lama, Tumpat UMNO Committee member Hashim Mohamad (Kelaboran), UMNO treasurer Wan Mohd Sanusi Wan Yunus (Pasir Pekan), businessman Wan Shahrul Azuan Wan Ab Aziz (Kijang) and entrepreneur Mohamed Fareez Noor Amran (Chempaka).
Others are Pengkalan Chepa Wanita UMNO head Zarina Md Eusope (Panchor), training consultant Madihah Abd Aziz (Tanjong Mas), contractor Datuk Mohamed Hasnan Che Hussin (Bunut Payong), Kelantan Federal Development Department (JPP) Director Datuk Yahaya Mamat (Tendong) and Special Affairs Department (JASA) officer Ahmad Anuar Husin (Meranti).
Among new faces nominated are teacher Muhammad Afifi Muhammad Nor (Chetok), Rantau Panjang UMNO Youth head Panjang Akbar Salim (Apam Putera/formerly known as Bukit Tuku), entrepreneur Bakri Yusoff (Pasir Tumboh) and Kubang Kerian Puteri UMNO head Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi (Demit).
Others involved are entrepreneur Datuk Mohd Radzuan Abdullah (Tawang), Bachok UMNO division vice head Mohd Radhuan Hamat (Jelawat), Kelantan UMNO Youth head Mohammad Azam Ismail (Kadok), Tanah Merah UMNO division Youth vice-head Wan Rakemi Wan Zahari (Kemahang) and imam, Mohd Hanafiah Abdul Aziz (Limbongan).
BN Kelantan also fielded entrepreneur Datuk Dr Mohd Kaisan Ab Rahman (Gaal), senior manager of a private firm Ahmad Tarmizi Ismail (Pulai Chondong), Special Officer to Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Wan Mohd Adnan Wan Aziz (Temangan), Kelantan Islamic Development Department (JPP) officer Zaki Muhammad (Mengkebang) and education service officer Dr Zuber Hassan (Guchil).
The list of new faces also involves Kuala Krai Wanita UMNO division head Suzaini Adlina Sukeri (Manek Urai), Tabung Haji Bina Sdn Bhd Board member Muhamad Awang (Dabong), Senior Private Secretary to the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Amran Arifin (Paloh) and entrepreneur Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim (Galas).
Meanwhile, Deputy Head of the Pasir Mas UMNO division Che Johan Che Pa, who withdrew at the last minute on nomination day in the 13th General Election, was nominated for the Pengkalan Pasir State seat.
Also renominated were Tumpat UMNO division acting head Datuk Mohd Rosdi Ab Aziz (Wakaf Baru), Deputy Head of the Rantau Panjang UMNO division Ghazali Ismail (Gual Periok), Kelantan State Sports Council (MSN) Director Datuk Mohamad Nordin Awang (Salor), Datuk Dr Ilias Husain (Pantai Irama/ formerly known as Perupok).
Others were Ketereh UMNO secretary Azmi Ishak (Melor), Tanah Merah Wanita UMNO head Dayang Saniah Awang Hamid (Bukit Panau) and Machang UMNO Youth head Eriandi Ismail (Kemuning).
Meanwhile nine candidates will defend their respective State Assembly seats namely Mat Razi Mat Ail (Pengkalan Kubor), Kelantan UMNO Information head Datuk Md Alwi Che Ahmad (Kok Lanas), Tanah Merah UMNO division deputy head Bakri @ Mohd Bakri Mustapha (Gual Ipoh), Zulkifle Ali (Selising).
It also involved Pasir Puteh UMNO division head Datuk Zawawi Othman (Semerak), Datuk Mohd Adhan Kechik (Bukit Bunga), Mustapa (Ayer Lanas) and Datuk Abdul Aziz Derashid (Kuala Balah) while the incumbent for Galas state seat Abdul Aziz Yusoff had been moved to Nenggiri.
Kelantan BN also dropped the incumbent Paloh Assemblyman Datuk Nozula Mat Diah. — Bernama