80 Per Cent New Faces In Best Transformational GE13 Line-up For Selangor, Says Najib

SHAH ALAM, April 16 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) is to field 80 per cent new faces, among them professionals and credible individuals, in Selangor in the 13th General Election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday.

Najib, who is Selangor BN chairman, said this was in keeping with the wishes and expectations of the people in the state, and the BN submitted to the wishes and power of the people.

The candidates were the best transformational line-up to recapture Selangor from the opposition and establish a strong state government, he said before announcing the 22 candidates for parliamentary seats and 56 for state seats in the state, at an event at the Selangor Umno building here.

The BN candidates for Selangor comprise professionals such as lawyers, engineers, accountants and businessmen.

Najib also pledged to fulfil the Selangor BN's pledges and said the new state government would be unlike the present opposition state government which only made empty promises.

Najib said the BN candidates were selected after taking into account their popularity at the grassroots, people-friendly demeanour and preparedness to provide dedicated service to the people.

"As such, I expect our candidates to convince the voters that they can bring success to the BN. This is the line-up which will redeem our defeat (in the last general election) and return the BN as the government in Selangor.

"I apologise if, in the selection of these candidates, my colleagues and I were unable to satisfy the hopes of all quarters because it is impossible to do so," he said.

He said it was more important for the party to be victorious and they gave the party hope to champion the party members and the people.

Najib said that as the Selangor BN chairman, he would continue to monitor the running of the state government if the BN recaptured the state and would ensure that the state underwent a transformation and more intensive development.

"We will rectify any shortcomings to the best of our ability," he said.

In this general election, Umno is fielding nine candidates in parliamentary seats and 35 in state seats in Selangor, the MCA is fielding seven candidates in parliamentary seats and 14 in state seats, the MIC is fielding four candidates in parliamentary seats and three in state seats.

Gerakan is fielding one candidate in a parliamentary seat and three candidates in state seats, the PPP is fielding one candidate in a state seat while former Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP and Perkasa vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Noordin is being fielded in the Shah parliamentary seat.

At the event, Najib expressed his appreciation and thanks to the people for their rising support and hoped that Allah (God) would bless the BN with a victory in Selangor.

The prime minister is scheduled to launch the BN manifesto for Selangor at 8 pm tomorrow at the Shah Alam Convention Centre.