PM Has Not Received Name Of Candidate For Batang Ai By-election

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had not officially received the name of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Batang Ai state seat by-election from Sarawak BN.

He said he had only been informed that Sarawak BN had identified the candidate but had not revealed to him the identity.

"If Sarawak BN wishes to get confirmation or endorsement from me as the BN chairman, I have not officially received the proposed name," he told reporters after meeting with leaders of the Penang Muslim League and Federation of Indian Muslim Associations of Malaysia, here, Saturday.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said today that the candidate for the Batang Ai seat had been identified and would be announced next week.

According to him, Sarawak BN had endorsed the candidate nominated by Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and the name would be submitted to the prime minister for approval and expected to be announced on Monday.

PRS president Datuk Seri Dr James Masing confirmed that PRS had nominated Malcom Mussen Lamoh, 49, an engineer with the Agriculture Department, as BN candidate for Batang Ai.

On the selection of Human Resource and Management Services director of the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Corporation, Ismail Saffian, as the BN candidate for the Bukit Gantang parliamenatry seat by-election in Perak, Abdullah said it was made after careful consideration..

"I hope the candidate proposed will win as he is seen to be the best person to represent the constituency," he said.

Meanwhile, Kedah MIC deputy chief Datuk S. Ganesan was today announced as the BN candidate for the Bukit Selambau state seat by-election in Kedah. (Bernama)