DUNGUN: The selection of Barisan Nasional candidates for the 14th General Election is the most careful ever by the party leadership, said Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said the list of candidates remained a mystery as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi pored over the names in accordance with the determined criteria.
“The PM will announce the candidates at the right time. I have never seen the PM engage in such careful consideration. It is because we have to consider all matters including the sentiment at the branch and divisional levels and the people’s acceptance of the candidates.
“We hope that when the candidates are announced, all of us will support them as we have pledged for a BN victory in GE14 and not resort to sabotage,” he said to reporters after launching the BN election machinery for the Dungun parliamentary constituency in Kampung Seberang Pintasan here yesterday.
Terengganu Menteri Besar and State Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad
Razif Abdul Rahman and Dungun BN chairman Datuk Din Adam were also present at the event attended by about 5,000 people.
Hishammuddin advised the election machinery to remain united and redouble efforts to endear themselves to the people.
They should place the party above personal interests, he said, adding that he wanted the Dungun election machinery to serve as a model for others.
Dungun Umno treasurer Datuk Zakaria alias Ariffin Abdullah led those present in taking a pledge of loyalty to BN chairman Najib and Terengganu BN chairman Ahmad Razif.
Terengganu BN wants to recapture from the opposition the Dungun seat and three of the four state seats within it, namely Sura, Paka and Rantau Abang. It now holds Bukit Besi. – Bernama