BN’s new strategy for KL
Thursday, 19 Apr 2018
by bavani m
Barisan is said to have decided on its candidates for 10 out of 11 seats in Kuala Lumpur. — filepic
“RETAIN, regain and reduce” – this is Federal Territories (FT) Barisan Nasional’s strategy in choosing election candidates for Kuala Lumpur, said a source from FT Umno.
A strategy of its chief Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, the plan was to retain seats won, regain lost seats and reduce the majorities, the source explained.
“This is what we have been working towards; it’s all about being practical and working as one team.
“The last time, it was about winnable candidates and we fielded many fresh faces but now we need to be practical with candidate selection, especially in reducing the majorities in tough seats,’’ he said.
He added that FT Barisan’s line-up for the general election was 90% complete with the exception of Setiawangsa parliamentary constituency.
Flags of various political parties in Kampung Pandan, Kuala Lumpur. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
“Even though the leadership has yet to release the candidates’ list, there is going to be a mix of old and new faces,” the source said.
Among the old faces expected to contest are former Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (Umno-Lembah Pantai), Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau (Batu), Wangsa Maju MCA chief Datuk Seri Yew Teong Look (Wangsa Maju) and incumbent Titiwangsa MP Datuk Seri Johari Ghani (Umno-Titiwangsa).
Speculated new faces are MyPPP vice-president Datuk Loga Bala Mohan (Segambut), Kepong Gerakan parliamentary coordinator Ong Siang Liang (Kepong), Cheras Wanita MCA chief Heng Sinn Yee (Cheras), Bukit Bintang Wanita MCA chief Ann Tan Ean Ean (Bukit Bintang) and Seputeh MCA assistant secretary Chan Quin Er (Seputeh).
“In Setiawangsa, the leadership has not decided which candidate to field yet.
“It is between incumbent MP Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari or Setiawangsa Umno chief Tan Sri Zulhasnan Rafique, who was a FT minister and former Setiawangsa MP,” added the source.
Zulhasnan, now the Malaysian ambassador to the United States, has been spotted attending to local concerns in Setiawangsa of late.
Barisan hopes to regain seats lost in past elections, such as Cheras. — filepic
Meanwhile, talk of seat-swapping between Umno and MCA may see Yew being free to contest in Wangsa Maju while newbie Adnan Abu Seman, a lawyer, is expected to contest in Bandar Tun Razak.
Adnan, who is Persiaran Kilang Umno Youth chief, is said to be a capable candidate with experience.
Speculation was rife that Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil would be fielded in Bandar Tun Razak following Bandar Tun Razak Umno chief Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar’s recent scandal.
But Shahrizat reportedly denied such claims in her Facebook page.
Rizalman was arrested at an entertainment outlet early this month for allegedly testing positive for methamphetamine.
The Kuala Lumpur police later cleared him of the charge after a second urine test at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, PAS announced that it would field candidates in seven seats in Kuala Lumpur namely Lembah Pantai, Titiwangsa, Batu, Setiawangsa, Bandar Tun Razak, Wangsa Maju and Segambut.
A striking contrast of the wooden houses in Kampung Baru compared to the high rises in Kuala Lumpur city centre. — filepic
It only contested the Titiwangsa seat in 2013, when it was part of the Opposition coalition. PAS is set to announce its FT candidates today.
On April 9, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced the party’s candidates for Kuala Lumpur during a special election briefing for party members in Petaling Jaya.
DAP was reported to confirm contesting in five out of eight Opposition-held seats in Kuala Lumpur.
In 2013, Barisan lost nine of the 11 seats in Kuala Lumpur.
Currently, it holds the Setiawangsa and Titiwangsa seats.
DAP holds five seats – Bukit Bintang, Cheras, Seputeh, Segambut and Kepong – while PKR has Lembah Pantai, Wangsa Maju and Batu.
Bandar Tun Razak, which was formerly under PKR, is now a “neutral” seat after its MP and former Selangor mentri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim became an Independent following his sacking by the party in 2014.
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2018/04/19/bns-new-strategy-for-kl-coalition-plans-to-field-mix-of-old-and-new-faces/#1sCMVhrlVKEThCKH.99
