Chief Minister Musa Aman said Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) might select several new faces to contest in the coming 13th General Election.     

"We have not determined (the new candidates) yet. We will select and discuss the matter with the prime minister first," he said.     

Musa said the candidates chosen must fulfil certain set criteria like being acceptable to the people, friendly, hardworking, committed and sensitive to the needs of the people.     

"This is to ensure that each winning BN candidate does not see the post held as a privilege but as a responsibility entrusted by the people.     

"That is why we have always reminded each BN elected representative to always 'turun padang' (go to the ground) and be close to the people, whether before, during or after the general election.     

"And Sabah BN is ready for the general election anytime," said Musa who is also Sabah BN chief, when met at an Aidilfitri open house hosted by Kalabakan member of parliament Abdul Ghapur Salleh, Tawau, today.     

On the 2012 Budget which will be tabled by Prime Minister Najib Razak on Oct 7, Musa hoped Sabah would receive an appropriate allocation for infrastructure development, especially in the rural areas.     

Gerakan Selangor candidate hunt

Meanwhile Gerakan will tighten the selection process for its candidates in the coming general election, including interviewing the potential candidates.     

Its president Koh Tsu Koon said the party would also be looking at their qualifications and contributions to the community before submitting their names as Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the general election.     

He said Gerakan members were also reminded not to sabotage the candidates chosen, but to fully support them to ensure victory for BN.     

"All party members must be united and to always 'turun padang' (go to the ground) to campaign for the candidates and never to betray the party for personal interest," he said after opening the Selangor Gerakan delegates' conference, here, today.     

On Selangor, Koh said the party would continue to strive to recapture four state seats (Teratai, Bukit Lanjan, Kota Alam Shah and Bukit Gasing) and one parliamentary seat (Puchong) it lost to the opposition in the last general election.     

"This time, we will not fail the mandate given by BN and we will go all out against the opposition in the coming general election, to ensure continuity of the Gerakan and BN agenda in the state," he added.     

Koh did not deny that this would be an uphill battle but would nevertheless ensure the votes from the Chinese, who are the majority in the four state seats, would return to BN.

-  Bernama