Khairy Jamaludin, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi was nominated to stand as UMNO candidate in the parliamentary seat of Rembau in Negri Sembilan.
The incumbent sitting UMNO Rembau MP, Firdaus Muhammad Rom Harun who won the seat in the 2004 against the PAS candidate by a massive 48 % margin (by 28,664 votes), was asked to give way to the PM's son-in-law for this election.
Opposing Khairy in the 2008 election is a PKR candidate, Badrul Hisham Shaharin.
The Rembau (N.Sembilan)parliamentary seat, where the PM's son-in-law is contesting has about 30 % of NON-Malay voters:
Malays 69.9%
Non Malays 39.6 % (Chinese 14.8%; Indians 14.8%)
Others 0.5%
From Malaysiakini:
Excerpts: Read here for more
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today that there should be NO political dynasties in the country.
..Many believed it was a reference to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.
Mahathir did NO Favours to his son, Mukhriz
Mahathir said this was the reason why he did NOT fast-track his son Mukhriz’s political career during his tenure as prime minister.
 Mukhriz will be vying for the Jerlun parliamentary seat in Kedah.
Speaking at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, Mahathir said although Muhkriz has his blessings to stand as a candidate for Barisan Nasional, he will not campaign for his son.
"It (Mukhriz’ candidacy) was determined by the top leadership of the party (Umno). I will not lobby, I will not make mention anything," added Mahathir who headed BN and Umno for more than two decades before stepping down in 2003.
Recounting the call four years ago by Umno secretary-general Radzi Sheikh Ahmad for Mukhriz to replace his father as the Umno Kubang Pasu division head, Mahathir said he declined as he did not want to be accused of setting up his son as a political heir.
"I did not want people to say I was setting up a dynasty. We should not have dynasties in our country’s politics. I had no say in the choice (of Mukhriz). It was entirely up to the leadership of Umno. If they choose him, they choose him. If they don’t choose him, I have to accept that. No, I will not campaign (for Mukhriz)," he added.
Asked further, Mahathir refused to be drawn into the topic. "That is my choice," he said. RELATED ARTICLE : Read here for more on Malaysiakini
"... Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today warned party (UMNO) members to stop protesting against his decision to drop some incumbent candidates.
It was reported that protests have been held outside the Perak and Terengganu menteris besar's official residence by disgruntled Umno members.
Similarly busloads of Umno members had descended at the premier’s residence at Putrajaya yesterday to show support for their dropped candidates.
Dissatisfaction in Perlis UMNO
There was also high tension in Perlis yesterday when some Umno division leaders resigned and BN flags were tore down in the wake of news that Perlis menteri besar Shahidan Kassim would be dropped.
Shahidan was eventually retained to defend his seat. His brother, Ismail, who was announced as the candidate for the Arau parliamentary seat this morning however was dropped from the list three hours later in a dramatic turn of events.
The Umno president said he would not reveal what had transpired in his meeting with Shahidan and the two Perlis MPs Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid in Putrajaya yesterday.
It is believed that the warring factions in Perlis - with Radzi and Azmi in one camp and Shahidan and his supporters in another - have come to an understanding in Putrajaya yesterday.
It is believed that Shahidan would be stepping down in two years’ time and to be replaced by a neutral candidate, Syed Razlan Putra Jamalullail.
The seat for Shahidan’s brother - as with the first announcement - is said to be part of this deal.
Dissatisfaction in Penang UMNO
A protest was held outside the venue by supporters of Penang’s Batu Maung state assemblyperson Mansor Musa. About 30 of them, led by an Umno branch leader Ahmad Omar, held banners calling for Mansor to be retained in the seat. They rejected the new candidate, Norman Zahalan, whom they said they were unfamiliar with.
Meanwhile, on the possibility of a three-cornered fight in his Kepala Batas parliamentary constituency tomorrow, Abdullah said candidates are free to choose the seat they want to run.
Apart from opposition PAS, a yet-to-be registered students’ party have said they would field a student as an independent candidate to challenge Abdullah. ..." |
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