Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman is staying put as menteri besar of Johor.Controversial Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof, sometimes referred to as the “close-one eye” MP, was dropped.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who is staying on, dropped five out of eight MPs.The MIC dropped only two out of its nine MPs — vice-presidents Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar and Datuk S. Veerasingam — but changed 13 out of 19 of its state assemblymen after intense criticism that it had not done enough for the community.
Sweeping changes were also made in the line-up for state seats in Malacca: 50 per cent are new faces.In Kelantan, a fresh team led by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Awang Hussin will lead the charge to wrest the state from Pas after 18 years.
Awang Adek will be assisted by Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad. Both will only contest state seats.In a surprising move, PNB chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kamal Piah is expected to contest the Pasir Putih parliamentary seat.
These are among the more significant changes appearing after the candidates’ list started trickling out yesterday. Over the next 48 hours, it will be known whether there are other major changes at federal level.Indications are that at state level, only Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will be moving to federal level.
There is speculation that Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim may retire; but, senior Barisan Nasional officials think that major changes are more likely at federal level.
So far, three cabinet members are confirmed to be re-contesting — Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdullah Zin and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn. None has been dropped so far.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, the subject of much speculation, is also staying put.Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will be defending his state seat of Bukit Baru.
Conspicuously missing from the list was controversial Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof. Former Serkam assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Hamzah will contest in his place.The MIC, under pressure from Indians over economic and welfare issues affecting the community, made a sweeping change in its list for state assembly seats: bringing in 13 new faces and retaining just six incumbents.
Those seeking re-election include Samy Vellu, its long-serving president who will defend the Sungai Siput seat for a ninth term.Till late yesterday, menteris besar and BN component party chiefs were still meeting Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to finalise their lists.
Regardless, it is still the position of the menteris besar that is drawing much talk — made more interesting by news that Awang Adek and the tough-talking Alwi are to be moved from federal to state seats in Kelantan.
This has strengthened the belief that BN is making a concerted attempt to recapture Kelantan, which it lost to Pas in 1990.
It is understood that its strategy includes fielding state Umno chief Datuk Anuar Musa and Hamad Kama for parliament seats.In Johor, the position of Ghani became clearer yesterday when senior BN sources said he would again contest the Serom state seat, which he is expected to win easily.
It is understood that Ghani, a menteri besar for three terms, was told about the matter at a meeting on Johor BN candidates with Abdullah in Putrajaya.
The decision ended weeks of speculation about his position as menteri besar and whether he would be moved to a federal seat.
It is understood that Ghani would be retained as he has laid a strong foundation for the Iskandar Development Region — a cornerstone project by the federal government to create a new economic zone that would provide business and employment opportunities for the population — and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Mersing.
Given that both these corridors are in their infancy and there is a need for continuity, the federal leadership felt that Ghani’s service was still needed to encourage the inflow of foreign investments.In the 2004 general election, Ghani was supposed to switch to a parliamentary seat.
But, after announcing this to his supporters and colleagues, Ghani was asked to defend his state seat as the sultan had called Abdullah and asked that Ghani be retained for another term.
He went on to defeat Pas’ Abu Bakar Tambi by a majority of 8,081 votes.As for Tajol Rosli, the message came from the man himself when he told his constituents, at two functions in Pengkalan Hulu yesterday, that he would be contesting the Pengkalan Hulu state seat, albeit for the last time.
Talk of his relinquishing his post began after the 2004 general election, when he voiced his intention to step down after having served two terms.
Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, who is staying on, dropped five out of eight MPs.The MIC dropped only two out of its nine MPs — vice-presidents Tan Sri K.S. Nijhar and Datuk S. Veerasingam — but changed 13 out of 19 of its state assemblymen after intense criticism that it had not done enough for the community.
Sweeping changes were also made in the line-up for state seats in Malacca: 50 per cent are new faces.In Kelantan, a fresh team led by Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Dr Awang Adek Awang Hussin will lead the charge to wrest the state from Pas after 18 years.
Awang Adek will be assisted by Datuk Alwi Che Ahmad. Both will only contest state seats.In a surprising move, PNB chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kamal Piah is expected to contest the Pasir Putih parliamentary seat.
These are among the more significant changes appearing after the candidates’ list started trickling out yesterday. Over the next 48 hours, it will be known whether there are other major changes at federal level.Indications are that at state level, only Penang Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon will be moving to federal level.
There is speculation that Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim may retire; but, senior Barisan Nasional officials think that major changes are more likely at federal level.
So far, three cabinet members are confirmed to be re-contesting — Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Abdullah Zin and Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn. None has been dropped so far.
Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali, the subject of much speculation, is also staying put.Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam will be defending his state seat of Bukit Baru.
Conspicuously missing from the list was controversial Jasin MP Mohd Said Yusof. Former Serkam assemblyman Datuk Ahmad Hamzah will contest in his place.The MIC, under pressure from Indians over economic and welfare issues affecting the community, made a sweeping change in its list for state assembly seats: bringing in 13 new faces and retaining just six incumbents.
Those seeking re-election include Samy Vellu, its long-serving president who will defend the Sungai Siput seat for a ninth term.Till late yesterday, menteris besar and BN component party chiefs were still meeting Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to finalise their lists.
Regardless, it is still the position of the menteris besar that is drawing much talk — made more interesting by news that Awang Adek and the tough-talking Alwi are to be moved from federal to state seats in Kelantan.
This has strengthened the belief that BN is making a concerted attempt to recapture Kelantan, which it lost to Pas in 1990.
It is understood that its strategy includes fielding state Umno chief Datuk Anuar Musa and Hamad Kama for parliament seats.In Johor, the position of Ghani became clearer yesterday when senior BN sources said he would again contest the Serom state seat, which he is expected to win easily.
It is understood that Ghani, a menteri besar for three terms, was told about the matter at a meeting on Johor BN candidates with Abdullah in Putrajaya.
The decision ended weeks of speculation about his position as menteri besar and whether he would be moved to a federal seat.
It is understood that Ghani would be retained as he has laid a strong foundation for the Iskandar Development Region — a cornerstone project by the federal government to create a new economic zone that would provide business and employment opportunities for the population — and the East Coast Economic Region (ECER) in Mersing.
Given that both these corridors are in their infancy and there is a need for continuity, the federal leadership felt that Ghani’s service was still needed to encourage the inflow of foreign investments.In the 2004 general election, Ghani was supposed to switch to a parliamentary seat.
But, after announcing this to his supporters and colleagues, Ghani was asked to defend his state seat as the sultan had called Abdullah and asked that Ghani be retained for another term.
He went on to defeat Pas’ Abu Bakar Tambi by a majority of 8,081 votes.As for Tajol Rosli, the message came from the man himself when he told his constituents, at two functions in Pengkalan Hulu yesterday, that he would be contesting the Pengkalan Hulu state seat, albeit for the last time.
Talk of his relinquishing his post began after the 2004 general election, when he voiced his intention to step down after having served two terms.
