The BN candidate for the Galas by-election is Gua Musang Umno division secretary Abdul Aziz Yusof, 47, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced this afternoon.

Aziz Yusof BN Galas candidate The Gua Musang local is currently the Sungai Tengah operations office manager of the Southern Kelantan Development Board (Kesedar), but will leave his government post in order to contest.

Muhyiddin made the announcement at the BN operations centre in Bukit Cekati, near Gua Musang.

"After careful deliberations by the division committee and, as I understand it, also the branch committees, the division has nominated him as candidate to contest in Galas," said Muhyiddin.

"He has vast experience in serving the people of Galas, as a government officer, and is suited to bring development to them," said the deputy premier.

In a press conference afterward, Muhyiddin was quizzed whether Abdul Aziz, who is only an SPM-holder, can compare to the PAS candidate who is a medical degree holder and if this may work against BN as it may have happened in the Manek Urai by-election.

"I don't think that will come up. He has his experience in serving the people," said Muhyiddin.

'Party more important'

The PAS candidate announced by party spiritual advisor Nik Aziz Nik Mat last Thursday, Dr Zulkefli Mohamad is a medical doctor who graduated from Universiti Malaya.

Muhyiddin, however, said the individual candidate is not as important as the party.

"The candidate must be good, but the candidate alone is not enough."

"What is more important is the party that is capable in bringing development to the people," he said.

The Galas state assembly seat in Kelantan fell vacant after its assemblyperson Che Hashim Sulaima passed away after he lost a battle with colon cancer recently.

Also on hand to usher in BN's candidate for Galas was election director and Gua Musang Umno chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapha Muhammad, Deputy Finance Minance Awang Adek, MCA vice president Chor Chee Keong and other state Umno and BN components leaders.

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