'BN candidate must be marketable, acceptable to all'
SEMENYIH POLLS | The BN candidate to be fielded in the upcoming Semenyih by-election must be acceptable to all component parties and especially the electorate, Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan (photo, above) said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the annual MCA Chinese New Year open house in Kuala Lumpur, Mohamad likened the candidate selection process to coming up with the best marketing strategy for a product...
SEMENYIH POLLS | The BN candidate to be fielded in the upcoming Semenyih by-election must be acceptable to all component parties and especially the electorate, Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan (photo, above) said.
Speaking to reporters after attending the annual MCA Chinese New Year open house in Kuala Lumpur, Mohamad likened the candidate selection process to coming up with the best marketing strategy for a product.
"This is all about marketing. No point offering a product that has already expired.
"I am not going to field a product or a candidate who is already expired. That's one thing for sure," Mohamad said.
While declining to reveal further details on BN's potential candidate, he stressed that the final selection must be accepted by all parties.
"Not just accepted by Umno or MCA but most importantly we (BN) are offering a product for the masses.
"So the product, the candidate must be marketable, acceptable and bought by the people," said Mohamad, who was accompanied by BN's newly- elected Cameron Highlands MP Ramli Mohd Nor.
Unlike Cameron Highlands, which is a rural seat and a traditional BN stronghold, Umno in GE14 lost the Semenyih state seat - an urban constituency in Selangor - to Bersatu's Mohd Bakhtiar Mohd Nor who died last month and triggered the by-election.
Asked for comments, Mohamad said it was important for BN to field the right candidate and reclaim the seat.
"We can't simply field a candidate who is just only okay lah (average)... no more than that.
"I want to find a candidate who is capable of carrying the party's name. Because now the party cannot 'carry' the candidate anymore.
"The candidate must have no baggage. The candidate must have no problems,” he added.
Malaysiakini yesterday reported that well-known Islamic preacher Mohd Farid Ravi Abdullah (photo, above) had dismissed speculation that he was one of the candidates Umno was considering for the March 2 by-election.
Semenyih Umno chief Johan Abdul Aziz said the division had proposed six names, including those from the party's Youth and Wanita wings, with an official announcement expected to be made sometime next week.
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