GE14 | BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak said today BN candidates for the 14th general election were assessed over the past five years and not over the past month or so.

The caretaker prime minister said that BN had taken into account the performance of the candidates in terms of their relationship with the local community, and the support they had among the people.

“The diversity of the BN candidates is not just to win minor battles, but more than that, that is to win big. It is pointless to win minor battles but lose the war.

“Most importantly, we want to offer to the voters, candidates who are able to provide the best service for nation-building,” he said at a special press conference on the eve of nomination day for the general election. Polling is on May 9.

Najib said the objective for the selection of the candidates was to ensure a BN victory in GE14 and maintain the momentum of the political parties in the coalition for the long term, in the interests of the people and country.

“We gave priority to local candidates though there may be one or two exceptions but, on the whole, the candidates were from among the local leaders.

“We also considered the representation according to communities because we have various communities in our country.

“It is also to ensure the diversity of communities that can be seen under the BN, which is a party that represents a diversity of people. At the end of the day, political consideration precedes everything else in the selection of candidates,” said Najib who was attired in a blue BN shirt.

He also said that the selection of BN candidates also took into account other needs, such as new faces and young people, in the effort to rejuvenate the party.

The selection also reflected the participation of women which, he said, was an ongoing commitment of the BN during a general election.

[More to follow]

--Bernama