Protest as Najib appoints GE13 candidates
A small group of protesters took to the Umno headquarters today to protest against the appointment of an outsider to contest in their constituency.
A small group of protestors took to the Umno headquarters today to protest against the appointment of an outsider to contest in their constituency.
Some 30 BN supporters who are voters in the Selangor state seat of Seri Setia held placards saying, among others, "Remember! Seri Setia will be lost if the candidate is not our choice" and "We do not want a parachute candidate" as they chanted, "We want a candidate that works the ground".
This came as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was meeting all BN heads in the Umno headquarters to finalise the candidates list for all the constituencies nationwide.
The protesters said they got wind that Tengku Rethwan Tengku Mansor, the brother of Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, would be appointed as candidate for Seri Setia.
"He is an outsider, we don't want him. We want (Seri Setia BN coordinator) Halim Abdul Samad.
"In the last four years we were ashamed to wear BN shirts after we lost the constituency, but under Halim's leadership and hard work, we feel proud now," said local resident Abu Hanipah Zahari.
Another protester, N Murugan from the Kelana Jaya Indian Progressive Front, said the candidate touted was not known to them.
"We have worked the ground very hard and now when it looked like we can win they (central leadership) want to parachute someone else.
"We know how he got the position, he is using 'cables'... you know what I mean," Murugan said.
Meanwhile, 67-year-old Ibrahim Mohd Yusof said other than Halim, there were two other possible local candidates.
"Yet none of these three were selected but an unknown is parachuted into our area," he said.
VIPs who walked into the headquarters merely glanced at them as the Umno security guards left them alone.
The group dispersed after 30 minutes of protesting.
Related stories
MCA drops Tee Keat and Ping Sieu
Najib: BN's candidate list 'final', hopes no changes
Gelang Patah MCA's Jason still weighing next move
Umno set to give way to Ibrahim Ali in Pasir Mas
Najib's BR1M letter an offence, claims Sarawak PKR
1M'sia-Penang club bemoans criticism
Gerakan 'lends' three seats to others
BN reinstates ban on news portals ahead of GE13
Kayveas: PPP to contest Kepong and four state seats
MCA shaping up to be biggest GE casualty
Taking from the poor to give to the poor
