Wan Farid Is BN Candidate For KT By-Election

December 20, 2008 - BERNAMA

Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid
Wan Salleh

KUALA TERENGGANU, - - Deputy Home Mnister Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh was on Saturday chosen as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the by-election for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary constituency on Jan 17.

The announcement was made by Deputy Prime Mnister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno deputy president, when addressing more than 4,000 BN supporters at the residence of Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said at Sri Iman here.

Najib said the selection of Wan Ahmad Farid, who is also Kuala Terengganu Umno division head, had received the consent of Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"For the candidate, the Umno president had taken all factors and opinions into consideration, and thus the BN now presents Datuk Wan Farid as its candidate for the P36 Kuala Terengganu by-election," he said.

The Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election is being held following the death of Deputy Education Minister Datuk Razali Ismail on Nov 28.

Najib said Wan Farid, 46, who has held the Kuala Terengganu Umno division head's post for two terms, was the most appropriate candidate who was believed to be capable of retaining the parliamentary seat for the BN.

"I have had several discussions with the (Umno) president, I want to tell the president that I share his view in the selection of the candidate," he said.

In addition, he said, other Umno leaders as well as the leaders of the other BN component parties, including from the Terengganu state itself, supported the selection of Wan Farid.

"In a by-election, the candidate is among the factors that determines the party's victory and we are confident that our candidate is capable of achieving victory on Jan 17," he said.

He said the announcement of the BN candidate for the by-election this time around was made earlier than usual, which was on the eve of the nomination day, to enable the chosen candidate to be closer to the constituents.

It also gave the BN time to tackle or resolve whatever problems that might arise, he said.

Najib said the Kuala Terengganu by-election had great significance and must be won by the BN because it would have an effect on the party's future.

Among those present at the function were former Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Umno Youth head Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein.

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