adminSEREMBAN: Barisan Nasional (BN) is likely to make changes to not retain “traditional seats” in the division of constituencies contested by the party, in preparation for the 16th Negeri Sembilan State Election (PRN).
BN Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the move was due to the composition of voters in most areas which has changed a lot at the moment.
“We want to look again and if possible, we want to modify it so that it gives an opportunity to parties in the BN component group to contest in areas they feel they can win. Compared to the traditional way, for example, seats 1, 2, 3, 4, these are yours.”
“So, it doesn’t give space and doesn’t give voters the opportunity to choose. That’s my view as the Negeri Sembilan BN Chairman, whether to change seats, whether to swap seats , because we must give voters the opportunity.”
“If it is increasing and decreasing, why do we want to let the same party contest in the same place? We may change seats but we try to accommodate as much as possible to all our friends in the BN component,” he said after officiating the Rembau Division UMNO Women, Youth and Puteri Representative Meeting, here today.
Mohamad, who is also UMNO Deputy President, said the results of previous elections would be used as a guide in assessing voter support patterns and demographic changes in each area before any decisions were made.
However, he said any final decision regarding the distribution of seats and the list of candidates for components, including Friends of BN , is subject to the decision of the central-level BN Supreme Council.
Mohamad said all division heads were instructed to submit their lists of candidates according to the prescribed procedures with at least three candidates for each seat.
“We will do it soon because we want to announce the names of the candidates on July 15 when we launch the BN election machinery, we don’t have much time left,” he said.
Mohamad said BN cannot face any internal disputes ahead of the election, as past experience has shown that several seats were lost due to sabotage among its own members.
Meanwhile, he did not rule out the possibility of defending the Rantau State Legislative Assembly seat, which he has held since 2004, but said that the matter would depend on the decision of the party leadership.
The Election Commission (EC) has set the polling day for the Negeri Sembilan state election on August 1, while the nomination of candidates on July 18 and July 28 are set for early voting.
— BERNAMA
