Penang Umno seeks untainted candidates

Changes a plenty as state leadership moves to field candidates with unblemished credentials in the forthcoming polls

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Umno is set to change its candidates in many seats for the forthcoming general election. The objective is to field those with clean records.

Umno state leaders said the leadership would field candidates without any undesired baggage and above all, have winning credentials.

Out of five federal seats it is contesting in Penang, the electorate would see different candidates in four seats, including new faces.

In its 15 state seats, Umno could well make 12 changes.

State leaders hinted that Umno can ill-afford to field many old faces, especially aging veterans, because the voters would reject them outright.

“Winnable candidates, even ordinary members of a component party, would always have the edge over others.

“Today’s electorate are different from those 20 years ago. They are more demanding now. We must field candidates capable to fulfilling their demands,” they said.

Generally these were conditions laid down by Najib Tun Razak, the BN national chairman and Umno president.

This was the main reason on why aspirants like Gerakan state chairman Dr Teng Hock Nan has been rejected as candidate.

The most noticeable absentee in Umno candidacy will be former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who will not seek re-election in his Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency.

Kepala Batas Youth chief and national youth information chief Rizal Merican Naina has emerged as favourite to replace Pak Lah. Kepala Batas has three state seats of Penaga, Pinang Tunggal and Bertam, all contested by Umno.

Penaga’s outgoing representative and Umno state secretary Azhar Ibrahim has quit politics while Bertam incumbent Zabariah Abdul Wahab could be dropped for under-performance.

Penaga and Bertam could see new faces, while Pinang Tunggal representative Roslan Saidin is likely to be retained.

Outgoing Tasek Gelugor MP, Nor Mohamed Yakcop, minister in PM’s department in charge economic planning unit in the recently dissolved federal Cabinet, will follow Pak Lah.

Sources said Tasek Gelugor Umno division chairman and incumbent Permatang Berangan assemblyman, Shahbudin Yahya, could be slotted in as a replacement for Nor.

Interesting clash in Nibong Tebal

With Shahbudin moving up to federal duel, sources said all three state seats under Tasek Gelugor would have new faces.

Teluk Air Tawar’s Jahara Hamid has already announced she would quit electoral politics while Sungai Dua’s Jasmin Mohamed may not be picked this time around.

Umno state chief Zainal Abidin Osman is said to be keen on trying his luck again in the Nibong Tebal federal seat. He lost to then PKR’s Tan Tee Beng in 2008.

If fielded, Zainal could face-off with PKR state chairman Mansor Othman in mouthwatering clash.

For the two seats under Nibong Tebal, Sungai Acheh rep Mahmud Zakaria may seek re-election. Umno has not decided on the candidate for Sungai Bakap.

In Permatang Pauh, Seberang Jaya’s Arif Shah Omar Shah may survive the axe. But he faces a tough competition with Mohammad Nasir Abdullah, the division deputy chief.

For the Permatang Pauh federal duel with PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, Umno is said to be seriously considering former state PAS leader Dr Mazlan Ismail.

No one has emerged as favourite candidates for the other state seats of Permatang Pasir and Penanti in Permatang Pauh.

In the Balik Pulau parliamentary constituency, party division chief Dr Hilmi Yahya would not defend his Teluk Bahang state seat. He may contest the federal seat.

Dr Hilmi was Balik Pulau MP for the 2004-2008 period.

Bayan Lepas’s Syed Amerruddin Syed Ahmad, it is learnt would take a break from politics.

Both Bayan Lepas and Teluk Bahang could see new faces while Pulau Betong rep Muhamad Farid Saad could be retained.

In Batu Maung state seat, which comes under Bayan Baru, Umno could field its division chief Abdul Rahim Saibu.

Unlike in previous elections, it’s learnt that Najib was keeping all his candidature cards close to his chest this time.

Previously BN candidates would have been known by now, except for a few contentious seats. Najib could decide and announce its candidates at the 11th hour.

“Previously, by announcing early, our candidates were ambushed by the opposition. This time we want to ambush them,” said Umno leaders.