The Malacca BN will field a candidate who is popular among the masses to defend the Merlimau state seat, said Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

umno supreme council special meeting 260809 ali rustam Mohd Ali, who is also the Malacca BN chairman, said the state BN would adopt the approach suggested by Prime Minister Najib Razak in selecting a candidate capable of winning the by-election.

"A candidate who is popular among the masses can win. If one is popular in the party but unpopular outside the party, it will be difficult to get the votes," he told reporters after attending a gathering and launching the Association of Former Members of the Community Development Department (Kemas) by the prime minister in Pekan, Pahang today.

He said the state BN had many candidates of calibre to fill the vacant seat following the death of the incumbent assemblyman, Mohamad Hidhir Abu Hassan, 54, following a heart attack on Thursday.

CM confident of retaining seat

He said at least three candidates would be listed to seek the consent of the prime minister.

azlan "There is no problem (on the candidate), we will choose the best, who can win, who is supported and liked by the people," he said.

He said the BN machinery at all levels in the state was also ready to face the by-election for the state seat.

"We are confident of retaining the seat because it is a BN bastion," he said.

Earlier, Mohd Ali received the award for being a former member of Kemas together with the former state assemblywoman for Taman Medan, Norkhaila Jamaluddin, from Najib.

Mohd Ali had served in Kemas from 1979 until 1984 as assistant director and director in several states including Kedah and Malacca.

- Bernama