The Penang BN candidates list for the fast-approaching 13th general election has not been fully accepted by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, despite the dissolution of Parliament being just around the corner.

NONE "There still is some horse trading and lobbying (going on)," state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow ( right ) said in an exclusive interview with KiniTV , the Internet TV service of Malaysiakini , yesterday.

"We have gone through the list. It has been partially agreed upon... there are some grouses and we are still doing the final touch up," Teng said.

However, there will be no major revamp of the list as it only involves a couple of seats, added the Gerakan secretary-general.

Parliament is widely expected to dissolved anytime soon. The Negeri Sembilan state assembly will reach the end of its term on March 26.

Parliament will be automatically dissolved on April 28, if it is not done earlier, and the 13th general elections must be called is by June 28.

Six BN seats yet to be solved

According to Teng, most of the seats in Penang have been "settled", for example, in the case of Gerakan, there are only three seats that are yet to be resolved.

The same goes for the Umno seats, but he is uncertain of the situation in MCA, Teng said in the interview at the Penang BN operations centre in Dato' Keramat.

"There are only pockets of candidates that we need to do some reassessment and re-evaluation, it is not a big issue since many of the major issues have been dealt with," he said.

"Never in the past had our candidates' list have been resolved so early, way before the dissolution of Parliament.".

Referring to Najib's statement that there would be 40 percent new faces contesting this time around, Teng said it would be the same for Penang.

On where are the hot seats that BN would be targeting in the state, Teng said: "When Parliament dissolves, you will know where our crowd is and where our efforts are.

"We have started implementing our campaign strategies in these areas already. We have to do it now instead of waiting for the GE, we have to change our mindset."

Teng himself has been spending a lot of time in mainland Penang, raising speculation that he would contest in Bukit Tengah.

Related stories

Banners of kissing men 'welcome' Anwar to JB

'Probe red and green ICs on electoral roll'

PKR hits back, Papagomo a 'phantom voter'

Rafizi tells Tee Keat: Be brave, embrace Pakatan

Tee Keat: MCA not a stooge of Umno on seats

Anwar chickening out on Permatang Pauh, scoffs Dr M

Guan Eng sends Liew on mission to 'K' seat in Johor

Tan Sri vs Tan Sri battle building up in JB

BR1M able to swing fence-sitters, says academician

Extending polls campaign period 'Pak Lah's biggest sin'

Sarawak Pakatan aims to bag a dozen seats

Bid to burn DAP's campaign truck with kerosene

Kulasegaran's dilemma - Perak or Johor?

Rais: Parties to get 10mins each on RTM for manifestos

GE13 a high-stakes game

Perhaps CSL should send OTK to fight LKS