The Malaysian Insight

SHAHIDAN Kassim will contest the Arau parliamentary seat in Perlis as a Perikatan Nasional (PN) candidate, confirmed Abdul Hadi Awang.

The Islamist party chief said another Umno candidate who was dropped, Maran incumbent Ismail Abdul Mutalib, will contest the Pahang parliamentary seat as a PN candidate.

He announced their candidature in Terengganu tonight as PN unveiled its slate for the state.

Shahidan was present.

Shahidan, who is caretaker Federal Territories minister, and Ismail, who is deputy housing and local government minister were absent from the Barisan Nasional line-up announced by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on Tuesday.

They were part of the party president’s move to cull those in Umno not aligned to his leadership.

However, Hadi did not specify which component party – Bersatu or PAS – both men had joined to contest under the PN banner.

Earlier today, Shahidan had said he will be contesting in the general election (GE).

“I will be contesting under one party formed with Umno, PAS and Bersatu that fights for race, religion and country. Even though Umno also fights for race, religion and country, it is now led by someone who betrayed Arau’s top division’s decision,” he told reporters at Pusat Khidmat Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim in Kubang Gajah, Arau, today.

Earlier, Terengganu PN chairman Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar announced the state’s state’s line-up for the GE.

He said PN will retain all its candidates, except for its Kuala Nerus incumbent. 

The seat will be contested by Alias Razak, who is a Terengganu exco.

The party has dropped Kuala Nerus incumbent Khairuddin Aman Razali, who will now contest as a direct Barisan Nasional candidate.

Samsuri said Hadi will defend the Marang parliamentary seat for the coalition.

Other incumbents who will contest in the GE are Che Alias Hamid (Kemaman), Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (Dungun) , Sharizzurkirnain Abdul Kadir (Setiu), and Ahmad Amzad Hashim (Kuala Terengganu).

Bersatu’s sole candidate, Rosol Wahid, who is Hulu Terengganu incumbent, will be defending his seat.

Samsuri said Che Muhamad Zulkifly Jusoh will contest the Besut seat again. Che Zulkifly in the last GE had lost the seat to BN’s Idris Jusoh. – November 3, 2022.