Bukit Gantang: Ismail Saffian is BN's man (update)

updated 5.45pm

BN names their men for tri-elections
Mar 14, 09 12:31pm

Umno's Ismail Saffian for Bukit Gantang, MIC's S Ganesan for Bukit Selambau and PRS's Malcolm Mussen ak Lamoh for Batang Ai - these are the three named as BN candidates for the forthcoming by-elections.

Ismail Saffian and S Ganesan's candidacies were announced by Deputy Premier Najib Abdul Razak in Taiping, Perak and Sungai Petani, Kedah, respectively this afternoon.

However, it is unclear who actually announced Malcolm Mussen as the BN's choice. An earlier report that the name was announced by Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib has been disputed.

Joseph Tawie, reporting for Malaysiakini in Kuching, said it was PRS president Dr James Masing who announced Mussen, his party's choice, as the candidate.

The Sarawak BN met in Kuching today to decide on the candidate. Present were leaders of state BN partners, PBB, Supp, SPDP and PRS.

Earlier report:

Barisan Nasional has named Ismail Saffian as its candidate for the Bukit Gantang by-election on April 7, Malaysiakini reports.

The 49-year-old candidate is the former Bukit Gantang Umno division information chief.

According to Bernama, Ismail is a local from Kampung Kubu, Bukit Gantang. He is also the human resources and management services director of the National Solid Waste Management and Public Cleaning Corporation.

In making the announcement in Taiping this morning, Deputy Premier and Perak BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak said a local was chosen to be the candidate in line with the wishes of the people in the area.

The candidate was chosen after a series of discussions with divisional leaders as well as state leaders and assessment from various aspects, he said.

The Election Commission has fixed April 7 for the polling while the nomination day is on March 29.

Yesterday, Kedah BN chairperson Mahdzir Khalid revealed that Najib would announce the name of the BN candidate for Bukit Selambau after launching the BN Bukit Selambau election machinery at SMK Teknik in Sungai Petani, at 3.30pm today.

The Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Member of Parliament, Roslan Shaharum of PAS, on Feb 9 of a heart attack.

In the 12th general election last year, Roslan polled 20,015 votes to win the seat with a 1,566-vote majority against Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Azim Mohd Zabidi who polled 18,449 votes and an Independent candidate, M. Morgan, who polled 872 votes.

The seat has 55,471 voters of whom 63.48 per cent are Malays, 26.77 Chinese, 9.71 per cent Indians and others, 0.4 per cent.

The by-election will be held simultaneously with the by-elections for the Bukit Selambau state seat in Kedah and Batang Ai state seat in Sarawak

In Kuching, Sarawak BN has endorsed Malcolm Mussen anak Lamoh of Parti Rakyat Sarawak as its candidate for the Batang Ai by-election on April 7.

However, in making the announcement after a state BN meeting this afternoon, Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud said the candidate is subject to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s approval.

Malcolm's name was the only one submitted by PRS president Dr James Masing to the BN leadership.

In doing so, Masing has described Malcolm as the people's choice. He is a Batang Ai local.