Shahidan Kassim, the Perlis Umno liaison committee deputy chairperson, says he considers himself a winnable candidate for Umno and the Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

The Tambun Tulang state assemblyman, who is the former Perlis menteri besar, said he drew his confidence from the opinion of his constituents.

"The people know that unless I have something to do I will not venture out of Perlis. I will remain in my constituency the whole day ... and meet my constituents and the like.

"If that does not qualify me as a winnable candidate, then what does?" he said to Bernama.

shahidan group at putrajaya 140308 shahidan kassim Asked whether he was prepared to contest in the next general election, Shahidan, who is a member of the Umno supreme council and heads the Arau Umno division, said the party leadership would have to determine that.

On his Facebook page, Shahidan has commented on whom he considers to be winnable candidates in each of the constituencies in Perlis, and has rated them as good, moderate, bad and worst.

"I have been asked why I did that. The matter is that the people have spoken (done the evaluation). I did not do the evaluation, the people did. I am just conveying the people's opinion. We talk (of winnable candidates) but there is no clear definition," he said.

Shahidan said that in solving the people's problems, winnable candidates will not cite the absence of financial allocation but strive on nevertheless even if they have to dig into their own pockets.

"The people do not understand (this allocation) thing. Winnable candidates have to make sacrifices. However, the fact remains that not all problems can be solved immediately by the government," he said.

'Change or be changed'

On the current political scenario, he said peace in the country can be disrupted if the minority wins and wants to dominate the majority.

He said the population of Malaysia comprises 67 per cent Malays and bumiputeras, 22 per cent Chinese and eight per cent Indians, and the winning electoral candidates must be representative of the racial composition so as to maintain harmony.

"PAS cannot make up the government because it is in the minority.

"If ever, the DAP can probably form the government. But, as a government, can it represent the people as a whole?" Shahidan asked.

On politics in Perlis, he said Umno and the Barisan Nasional can retain the state in the next general election, provided the party is able to consolidate the unity of members and has an effective election machinery.

"We can win handsomely or lose badly. Internal issues have to straightened out. The same goes for the supporters of the MCA.

"However, at the grassroots, the machinery is already operating state-wide," he said.

Shahidan said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself has set a good example for the lower levels of leadership to garner the people's support.

"Change or be changed," he said.

- Bernama

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