Tweaks to unveiling of BN candidates list, says sec-gen

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 26 — There will be slight changes in the announcement of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 13th general election compared to the previous election, said BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

He also did not rule out that the names of candidates standing for the next general election would be announced much earlier.

“This time there are changes compared to the previous election. We will bring many changes as the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) had introduced many changes and we have to move forward and not backward.

“There are pros and cons in announcing the candidates earlier. So, we have to balance between the pros and the cons. It is up to the prime minister who is also the BN chairman to make the decision.

“I’m convinced that this time it will be carried out with slight changes. Probably, it will be announced earlier and it will not be for Umno alone, but for all the BN component parties,” Tengku Adnan (picture) told reporters after a public feast and animal sacrifice organised by the Putrajaya Umno division, here today.

Yesterday, Umno information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the party did not intend to announce the candidates standing for the next general election earlier to avoid sabotage including those who were not selected creating a “team” to bring down the selected candidate.

Meanwhile, Tengku Adnan denied that certain individuals had been purportedly directed by the prime minister, deputy prime minister or Umno secretary-general to “look around for election candidates” or to undertake research on candidates for certain constituencies.

He said the names of candidates for the parliamentary and state constituencies throughout the country in the coming general election were being screened for short-listing.

“The 13th general election can be held at any time.

“We have received the names of all candidates and some were already at the finalising stage...The screening process is still on-going. In some constituencies, there are two or three names (candidates). Sometimes, only one name for certain constituencies, but the screening process will still be carried out,” he said. — Bernama