PN's Ketereh candidate gets his authorisation letter to contest at long last

The long wait is finally over for Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate for the Ketereh parliamentary seat in Terengganu, Khlir Mohd Nor.

"I am thankful to my party, Bersatu, for having trust in me.

"I would also like to thank the PAS leadership for agreeing to nominate me," he told Malaysiakini tonight.

The former military officer just received his “watikah” (letter of authorisation) this evening, just hours before tomorrow's nomination day.

Earlier today, it was reported that Khlir (above) was resigned to his fate following unsuccessful attempts to get his 'watikah' to contest in the 15th general election (GE15).

Khlir lamented how he felt humiliated by the delay when all others contesting under the PN banner in parliamentary seats in the state had received their letters from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

The matter sparked speculations that incumbent Ketereh MP Annuar Musa, who was dropped by BN from defending the seat, would be fielded by PN.

The Umno-BN leadership chose Kelantan Puteri Umno chief Marzuani Ardila Ariffin to contest the parliamentary seat instead.

Marzuani is also Ketereh Puteri Umno chief.

Rumours about the possible “migration” of more senior Umno leaders were heightened by Hadi's remarks in Marang last night that aside from Shahidan Kassim (incumbent Arau MP) and Ismail Abd Muttalib (Maran) who agreed to contest under the PN ticket, other “names” are also “waiting” to support the PN coalition.

This evening, however, Annuar said that he would not accept offers from any other parties to contest in Ketereh, and vowed to stay loyal to Umno.

"Khlir is also my friend, why would I put sand in his rice bowl?

"So I would like to tell party friends who would like to choose me, don't fight among yourselves, enough with Umno fighting among themselves because of me.

"I don't want to end up troubling others, let me 'suffer' alone," he added.

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