Melaka BN GE14 candidates capable of realising two-thirds majority
By Shaidathul Suhana Ros
MELAKA, April 26 (Bernama) -- The candidates of Melaka Barisan Nasional (BN) contesting in the 14th general election (GE14) are capable of garnering the two-thirds majority in the Melaka State Legislative Assembly on the condition all BN members are united in supporting the candidates chosen by the party leadership.
Melaka Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) deputy chairman Tan Sri Abu Seman Yusop said the candidates listed surpassed the criteria set by BN top leadership for the two-thirds majority target and therefore undivided support should be given to them.
"The former candidates should go to the ground while the new candidates should bear their responsibility. This a balanced line-up of old and new faces capable of retaining BN's two-thirds majority in Melaka and thereby strengthens the existing government based on the current scenario.
"Those listed were the right candidates. Therefore, the candidate announced should be accepted by all component party leadership and members in the spirit of prioritising BN compared to their respective parties or other matters," the Mubarak Supreme Council member told Bernama.
On Monday, Melaka BN chairman Datuk Seri Idris Haron announced a list of 28 candidates to contest for seats in the State Legislative Assembly and six for the parliamentary seats including 12 new faces for the 14th general election on May 9.
In GE13, BN formed the government with a two-thirds majority in Melaka State Assembly with 21 state seats out of the total of 28 seats and in GE14, BN is targeting to control 24 seats in the state assembly when it only needed a minimum of 19 seats for the two-thirds majority.
Abu Seman, the former Masjid Tanah MP and former Melaka BN deputy chairman said the party machinery at all levels in the grassroots should work hard to assist the victory of BN candidates and the matter should be the guide for party members to ensure BN continued to obtain the mandate to rule Melaka.
"UMNO members who are also voters as well as supporters, should help one another. We are not only working as a team but as a family. The warmth among members is like siblings in a family which is our strength.
"With unity and loyalty, I believe with full confidence that BN Melaka has the potential to win at least 19 state seats in GE14," said the former Deputy Home Minister.
Meanwhile, he said BN Melaka continued to excel as the state moved towards achieving developed status with balanced urban and rural development while maintaining environmental sustainability during the 2013-2018 term.
"Idris is a smart man with extraordinary aura. Each development plan implemented in Melaka has brought positive impact to the state's socio-economic growth.
"This is evident with Melaka receiving many awards including ?The World's Trendiest Holiday Destination By The British Post' and '10 Best Must Visit Destinations by Lonely Planet.com'. Most importantly, we should not listen to gossips and instead see for yourself the progress BN has made in this state," said Abu Seman.
In this regard, former Melaka Assembly Speaker Datuk Othman Muhamad said the change in the list of candidates by fielding 12 new faces and 21 old candidates is a strategy which is seen as effective to ensure BN continues to be in power in Melaka.
"The Prime Minister's political secretary, Wong Nai Chee has won the Kota Melaka parliamentary seat in GE11 and putting him again in the Alor Gajah parliamentary seat is seen as a symbolic trust given by the top party leadership to him to serve the people," he said.
He said apart from that, many other strategies were being formulated by Melaka BN including moving Deputy Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah from the Tangga Batu parliamentary seat to the Paya Rumput state seat.
"This is based on the current political scenario as Paya Rumput is an opposition stronghold and by putting the candidate (Abu Bakar) in that seat, we expect BN will not only win but loved by the people," he said.
Othman said the development achievements of BN government had provided various benefits and comfort to the multi-racial people of Melaka and in fact all were carried out without any problems to affect the cordial relations between BN leaders at state and federal levels.
-- BERNAMA
