‘Sulaiman will not be defending Kota Samarahan’

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KOTA SAMARAHAN: PBB supreme council member Dato Sri Mohd Ali Mahmud yesterday confirmed that Dato Sri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman would not be defending Kota Samarahan in the coming general election.

He said Sulaiman had resigned from the deputy minister post and that was a clear sign he did not want to be in politics anymore.

“He wants to be in the corporate world,” he told journalists after handing out Bantuan Belia 1Malaysia to 836 recipients at the civic centre here.

Ali, who is also Muara Tuang assemblyman, was tight-lipped when it came to the candidacy for Kota Samarahan.

“We will wait for our prime minister to announce. When the prime minister decides, we give our full support.”

He said he would welcome a woman candidate if the Barisan Nasional chief decided to field one.

“There is no problem with a woman, neither is there a problem with a man.”

When pressed for a name or two on the candidacy, Ali said, “Not that I cannot disclose. It is up to the prime minister who is our leader.”

He added: “How can I have a name? I do not know. I wish I knew, but even if I know, I will not tell you.”

On the quality of a winnable candidate, he said the person must be very committed to serving the people.

It was of utmost importance that the candidate picked “is well-versed with Samarahan and its development programme,” he pointed out.

“Other than that, well, the candidate should look after the welfare of the people,” he added.

During the last general election in March 2008, Sulaiman registered a winning majority of 11,411 votes after defeating PKR’s Hussain Abang Apok and Independent Awg Bakar Awg Daud.

Sulaiman garnered 15,559 votes in the three-cornered fight.

Lately, there have been talks that Samarahan district officer Rubiah Wang is in the running to be the new BN candidate for the seat.