Adenan says BN components, BN-friendly parties’ doors open to coalition’s direct candidates
Adenan (fourth left) in a jubilant mood after announcing the five direct BN candidates yesterday. From left are Rayong, Tiong, UPP secretary general George Lo, Wong, Dr Jerip, Hii and Ranum.
KUCHING: The state BN chairman revealed yesterday that winning direct BN candidates can join any BN component party or any party loyal to the coalition after the election.
“They are at liberty to join any party they want, provided their loyalty lies with BN,” said state BN chairman Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem when answering a question whether direct BN candidates who resigned from UPP could go back to join the BN-friendly party.
Asked if it is a must for them to join BN component parties, without answering directly, the chief minister stressed what is important is the candidates’ loyalty to BN.
“They are at liberty to join any party they want (after the state election) but their loyalty must lie with the BN, that’s the important thing,” Adenan told a press conference at his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here yesterday.
However, he stressed that leaders of UPP nominated as direct BN candidates must resign from their party as required by the BN constitution.
“All of them will have to resign from the party UPP because that is a technical requirement by the BN constitution. They need to comply, after all they are going to be BN candidates.”
On the candidates for the remaining seven SPDP/Teras seats of Tasik Biru, Krian, Pakan, Meluan, Marudi, Batu Danau and Ba Kelalan and two SUPP/UPP seats of Pelawan and Maradong yet to be announced, the chief minister said the names would be ready in “a few days” time before nomination day.
“It will be ready a few days before nomination day whatever that is,” he reiterated.
However, the chief minister revealed there would be a delay for Pelawan, Marudi, Tasik Biru and Maradong seats.
“But it will be finalised before nomination day. They will be decided before nomination day. For Pelawan and Maradong, there are a few things for us to discuss first before we reach a consensus,” he elaborated.
Adenan also hoped that a consensus would be achieved soon regarding the infighting between SPDP and Teras.
“We can expect the final list very soon, even perhaps before this weekend, or before nomination day. So that they have time to prepare the (nomination) papers. I cannot choose them on the 25th, on nomination day. Kelam kabut lah, cannot. I must give them time,” he reiterated.
When asked whether nomination day would fall on April 25, Adenan quipped, “If you want to ask about the nomination day, you have to ask the EC (Election Commission). They are not obliged to tell me but they are obliged to tell the public”.
When asked whether he was satisfied with the BN candidates or the so-called ‘Adenan Team’ whom he had announced, the chief minister retorted, “If I am not satisfied, I will not be sitting down here making the announcement”.
Meanwhile, he said he expected all BN component parties to work together to mount a strong challenge against the opposition.
“Now that most of the candidacy has been settled, I expect us to stop pointing cannons at one another and point all the cannons at the opposition instead.
“I expect now there will be no more internal dispute. And all our guns must be trained towards the opposition,” he stressed.
Six direct BN candidates announced yesterday were Dato
Sri Wong Soon Koh (Bawang Assan), Datuk Dr Jerip Susil (Mambong), Datuk Tiong Thai King (Dudong), Ranum Mina (Opar), Dr Johnical Rayong (Engkilili) and Dato Hii King Chiong (Pujut).
The chief minister also announced that Datuk Pau Chiong Ung had resigned from SPDP and would be fielded as SUPP candidate for Tanjung Batu.
With the chief minister’s announcement yesterday, BN now has named its candidates for 73 seats, with candidates for nine more seats yet to be revealed.