The Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 13th general election will be announced earlier than usual to enable them make the necessary preparations, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today.

The BN chairperson said the coalition was now waiting for the announcement of the dates for nomination and polling by the Election Commission (EC) to determine when the names of the candidates could be released.

“We will announce the candidates earlier than usual to enable them to make the necessary preparations, including introducing themselves (to the electorate),” he said.

Najib spoke to reporters after chairing a meeting of the Umno supreme council and the BN supreme council at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur.

The prime minister said the early announcement of the candidates would give them more time to introduce themselves as well as for the BN to study the people’s response and rectify shortcomings.

Asked about the new faces in the BN list of candidates, Najib said: “Wait for the announcement.”

“I do not want to say anything now but there will be changes. If I were to disclose everything, there will be no element of surprise.

“It is important to have an element of surprise,” he said.

- Bernama

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