Will Razaleigh decide on Galas candidate?

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement that Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would be heading BN’s machinery in the upcoming Galas by-election, left many confused over the latter’s role will be.

While some have wondered if Razaleigh, more fondly known as Ku Li, will be a mere figurehead, others are calling for him to be given full autonomy in the campaign for Galas, one of the state seats under the Gua Musang parliamentary constituency.

An aide close to Razaleigh had said that his boss was not one to accept any position without complete power to call the shots, including deciding who to field in the by-election.

“(Razaleigh) has been in politics for so long. If he were to simply accept the position and then be reduced to an ‘empty director’s’ role, I will personally ask him not to accept it,” he said.

Muhyiddin on Tuesday announced that Razaleigh had agreed and accepted the role, assisted by Umno Kelantan chief Mustapa Mohamed.

However Razaleigh, who is presently overseas, and will return only next Saturday, has been conspicuously silent on the matter.

Sources close to Razaleigh also said that if anything, the Gua Musang division chief is fond of hierarchy and seniority, and these will be major factors guiding his decison on the selection of candidates.

“In any divisional politics, the second highest is the secretary, followed by the treasurer, the Youth chief and the Wanita chief.

“It’s quite likely that the candidate will come from (one of these),” said one source.

Other sources have also said that Umno division secretary Abdul Aziz Yusof, Youth chief Bazlan Baharuddin and Wanita chief Wan Hazani Wan Mohd Nor may be in the running.

Muhyiddin himself has also previously stated his preference for a local candidate.

Gua Musang candidate for PAS

PAS is also leaning towards a Gua Musang candidate for the seat.

It is understood that PAS Gua Musang division deputy chief Zulkifli Mohamad is the front runner in the shortlist.

In the 2008 general election Zulkifli faced off with Razaleigh for the Gua Musang seat and lost.

Another name on the radar screen is Husin Embong, the division’s vice-president and the former aide to the incumbent Che Hashim Sulaima.

Che Hashim passed away from colon cancer on Monday, leaving the seat vacant.

He had previously won the seat against BN’s Saufi Deraman in the 2008 polls by the narrow margin of 646 votes with a total of 4,399 votes.