AHMAD ZAHID RECEIVES UMNO CANDIDATE LIST FOR NENGGIRI BY-ELECTION

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has received a shortlist of the party's prospective candidates for the Nenggiri state by-election in Kelantan.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said discussions have also been held with Gua Musang UMNO division chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah regarding the candidate to represent the party in the polls.

“Although I have received the shortlist, the tradition is for Gua Musang UMNO to present these names in a division meeting and hold an internal vote among the division committee.

"... (it is to) select a candidate with the WALI elements of being Winnable, Acceptable and Likeable,” he told a press conference after officiating at the MARA Educator Awards Day here today.

Also present was MARA chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.

The media had reported that Kelantan UMNO and Gua Musang Youth chief Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani, Gua Musang UMNO information chief Amran Arifin, and Gua Musang Wanita UMNO chief Nor Fadzlete Aryani Mat Rosli were among those being considered as the BN candidate for the by-election.

The Election Commission has set Aug 17 as polling day for the by-election, with nomination on Aug 3 and early voting on Aug 13.

Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah declared the seat vacant effective June 19 after being informed that Nenggiri state assemblyman Mohd Azizi had ceased to be a member of Bersatu.

-- BERNAMA