Pahang's Adnan to stop at GE14
KUANTAN, April 26 (Bernama) -- Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob today said the 14th general election would be his last in the arena.
Having gone through seven general elections, the UMNO veteran leader aged 68 will nevertheless defend the Pelangai state seat that he had held since 1986.
"I have served as menteri besar and state assemblyman for a long time and I had previously expressed my desire to bow out but could not due to certain reasons that I won't say.
"This is going to be the last for me," he told reporters after the ceremony to announce and present GE14 letters of candidacy at Kompleks Yayasan Pahang here, today.
Adnan was first appointed as Pahang menteri besar on May 25, 1999, replacing Tan Sri Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
On the selection of Barisan Nasional candidates for GE14 in Pahang, he said 32 were incumbents and 16, new faces.
Meanwhile, three state constituency incumbents have been dropped for GE14 - Datuk Dr Ahmad Shukri Ismail (Pulau Tawar), Datuk Maznah Mazlan (Muadzam Shah) and Datuk Lau Lee (Damak) who have been replaced with Nadzri Ngah, Ir Razali Kassim, and Lau Lee (Natalie Lim Chong Ly), respectively.
Adnan was solemn as he described the three as among his best friends in politics, who had represented their constituencies excellently.
"All of them have such a big heart, never once exhibited any resentment when they received news that they had not been chosen as candidates. In fact, they even joined us here as a show of support. I hope the new candidates in Damak, Pulau Tawar and Muadzam Shah will not brush them aside.
"It really saddens me, knowing the sacrifices they had made and their willingness to accept the situation. InsyaAllah we won't forget all three of you and please don't lose hope. I am going to miss all of you; we also have to remind ourselves to always be prepared to get off the pedestal at any time including myself," he said.
He also assured the three new candidates not to worry about being sabotaged as the three former assemblymen had promised to assist BN in winning GE14.
-- BERNAMA
