No decision on Galas candidate yet, says PM

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said today he has not decided on a suitable candidate for the Galas by-election.

Although it was anticipated that Umno Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah will be the Barisan Nasional (BN) man for the seat, Najib said the decision will "be announced in due time".

Speaking to reporters after chairing a pre-BN council meeting in Parliament today, Najib, who is also Umno president, did not indicate who will be fielded to face PAS in the by-election on Nov 4.

"We are still deciding on the candidate but the decision will only be made later," he said.

However, Najib said the appointment letter of Razaleigh as the head of BN election machinery has been sent to the latter this morning.

"He is prepared to spearhead the BN machinery and promised to lead us to victory," he said.
'Ku Li unlikely to accept candidacy'
Meanwhile Tumpat PAS parliamentarian Kamaruddin Jaafar predicted that Razaleigh will reject the chance to be the candidate in Galas.

"His appointment as the elections director for Galas sends a clear message that he will reject the candidacy. Normally, an elections director will not be picked to be the candidate," he said.

He added that the speculation that Razaleigh would be the candidate was only a "tactic to divert from Umno's internal problems".

Kamaruddin also expressed confidence that Razaleigh, as the elections director, will ensure the campaign was "fair, clean and just".

While Razaleigh has been touted as the favourite BN candidate, another name should not be discounted too – that of Gua Musang Umno division secretary Abdul Aziz Yusof.

Some Umno leaders believe that Abdul Aziz is also capable to taking back the seat from PAS which captured it by a thin 646-vote majority in 2008.

The by-election is slated to be on Nov 4, with nomination day is on Oct 26. The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent, PAS' Che Hashim Sulaima.
BN is expected to announce its candidate on Oct 24, which is also the final day of Umno's annual general meeting.