Backlash expected over new Selangor faces
Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional are predicted to face a backlash from supporters of the coalition’s 20 state assemblypersons and members of Parliament who have not been re-nominated to contest the upcoming general election on March 8.
Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional are predicted to face a backlash from supporters of the coalition’s 20 state assemblypersons and members of Parliament who have not been re-nominated to contest the upcoming general election on March 8.
Some of those who have been dropped are Port Klang state assemblyperson, Zakaria Mohd Deros - owner of the infamous a Istana Zakaria (pix), which was built without the Klang’s municipal council’s approval. Zakaria himself was a councillor at the time.
Three Selangor exco members are also not expected to be re-nominated.
The final list of Selangor BN candidates will be announced by Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo, who is also the Selangor BN chief, later tonight after he has consulted with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Khir is expected to defend his Sungai Panjang state seat which he won in the last general election with a majority of 5,000.
Negative impact
According to sources, Selangor Umno Information Chief and former menteri besar, Muhammad Muhammad Taib (pix, below), will make a return to active politics by contesting the Kuala Selangor parliamentary seat.
Selangor has 22 parliamentary seats and 54 state seats. In the 2004 general election, Selangor lost two state seats to DAP - Sungai Pinang and Sekinchan.
There are also division leaders who have not been re-nominated,’ the sources said.
"Their supporters may boycott or change their votes on March 8."
They added, however, that Zakaria’s son, Zainuri, who is also Klang Umno Youth Chief, is slated to contest his father’s Port Klang state seat.
"This move will ensure ongoing support from Zakaria supporters."
"If Umno fields someone else, it will affect BN’s chance of retaining this state seat," the sources told Malaysiakini.
New faces
It was also learnt that among the new candidates who will be nominated to contest the polls are five Umno Youth division chiefs, two Wanita division chiefs and one Puteri Umno division chief.
The possible candidates are said to be Selangor Umno Youth Chief Abdul Shukor Idrus, Hulu Selangor Youth Chief Mohd Isa Abu Kasim, Hulu Langat Youth Chief Johan Abdul Aziz, Kapar Youth Chief Faizal Abdullah and Selangor Puteri Umno Chief Noraazmin Radzuan.
Malaysiakini was told that Abdul Shukor could contest the Taman Templer state seat, Mohd Isa the Batang Kali state seat and Johan the Dusun Tua state seat.
Umno Selangor Youth Exco member, Subhan Kamal may be nominated to contest the Kuang state seat.
The three state exco members who have not been re-nominated are Mohd Mokhtar Ahmad Dahlan (Kota Damansara), Raja Ideris Raja Ahmad (Sabak) and MCA’s Tang See Hang (Rawang) .
Another state exco member, MCA Selangor head, Ch’ng Toh Eng (Kuala Kubu Bharu) will move up to contest the Klang parliamentary seat. He will replace Tan Yee Kew.
Ahmad Nawawi Zin (Kota Anggerik) will contest in Shah Alam parliamentary seat, replacing Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin who is rural and regional development minister.
Dropped from list
Besides Aziz, other MPs who are not expected to be re-nominated are Dr KS Nijhar (Subang) (pix), Yap Pian Hon (Serdang), Rozaidah Talib (Ampang), Mohd Daud Tarihep (Kuala Selangor), Mat Yasir Ikhsan (Sabak Bernam) and Shafie Mohd Salleh (Kuala Langat).
The state assemblypersons said to have been dropped as candidates are Zainal Abidin Sakom (Batang Kali), Ahmad Bhari Abdul Rahman (Taman Templer), Abdul Wahab Ibrahim (Taman Medan), Mad Aris Mad Yusof (Chempaka), Mohamad Ideris Abdul Bakar (Hulu Bernam), Salamon Selamat (Batu Tiga) and Abdul Aziz Md Noh (Permatang).
Batu Caves state assemblyperson, MIC’s V Jagarasah has also not been re-nominated and will be replaced by T Mohan from the same party. Also not listed are the assemblypersons for Dusun Tua and Kuang, Rahmad Musa and Soohaimi Abdul Rahman respectively.
