BN chief Najib Razak is expected to hand out the letter of credential of candidates to respective state Barisan Nasional (BN) chairpersons tomorrow.      

BN publicity and information bureau chairperson Ahmad Maslan said the state BN chairperson in turn will announce the list of candidates for the 13th general election tomorrow or on Tuesday.      

"Anyway, it's up to them when they want to make the announcement," he said when contacted by Bernama today.      

The event will be held at the BN Headquarters at Menara Dato Onn, the Putra World Trade Centre in KL.      

In Kota Baharu, Kelantan BN chairperson Mustapa Mohamed said the state BN would announce the candidates after getting the green light from Najib once the names were finalised tomorrow.     

The state BN has proposed old and new faces comprising religious, youth and women leaders after discussions with all quarters, including Umno division heads, he told a news conference at the Kelantan BN media centre.      

Calling on those who were not nominated not to sulk and betray the party, he said: "Even if you are crestfallen, you need to come back to the fold to lend a hand in our quest to recapture Kelantan from PAS for the sake of the people's future," he said.     

Meanwhile, Johor and Kedah BN are expected to announce the list of candidates on Tuesday morning, said BN spokesmen from both states.      

In Shah Alam, Selangor BN deputy chairperson Noh Omar said the state BN would field new faces consisting of professionals, teachers and representatives of non-government organisations, especially in constituencies where the BN lost in the last general election.      

     

The Selangor BN has asked Najib as the state BN chairperson to hand out the letter of credentials to the candidates concerned, he told reporters after attending an entrepreneur event organised by National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (Tekun).      

The BN will contest in all 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats.

The Election Commission has fixed April 20 for nomination and May 5 for polling for the 13th general election.  

Ahmad Zahid: Don’t play dirty

Meanwhile Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi advised all political parties not to make personal attacks against candidates while campaigning.      

"Run a clean campaign. Influence voters with what's in the manifesto and what can be delivered," he told reporters after a gathering at Kampung Batu 20, Bagan Datoh today.      

He was commenting on allegations that certain parties were playing dirty by spreading lies and attacking candidates on a personal level just to garner votes.      

He reminded the involved parties that voters were now wiser to evaluate the situation and able to decide for themselves.        

"I advise myself, my friends in Barisan Nasional and those from the opposition not to resort to such tactics because, what goes around comes around," he said.

   

- Bernama