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KUCHING: The much-anticipated announcement of the Barisan Nasional's candidate list came with a few surprises the candidate for Ba'Kelalan was not named and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was not present.
It has traditionally been Taib's role to announce the line-up since he came into office in 1981.
Taib left the PBB headquarters unnoticed immediately after a three-hour meeting, delegating the announcement to his special adviser Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is PBB information chief.
While reading out the list, Adenan surprised journalists when he left out the name of the Ba'Kelalan candidate.
“It is a mystery candidate and we will make the announcement before nomination day,” he told a packed press conference, adding “we want to keep you (reporters) guessing.”
Asked why Ba'Kelalan was left empty, Adenan stressed that the Barisan could find a candidate at any time.
“We want the right candidate,” he said.
Asked if Ba'Kelalan would be given to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Adenan said: “That is your speculation.”
“These (candidates) are the best we are offering. We have chosen winnable candidates and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given his consent,” he said.
Adenan said Najib was aware of the Ba'Kelalan situation.
It has traditionally been Taib's role to announce the line-up since he came into office in 1981.
Taib left the PBB headquarters unnoticed immediately after a three-hour meeting, delegating the announcement to his special adviser Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is PBB information chief.
While reading out the list, Adenan surprised journalists when he left out the name of the Ba'Kelalan candidate.
“It is a mystery candidate and we will make the announcement before nomination day,” he told a packed press conference, adding “we want to keep you (reporters) guessing.”
Asked why Ba'Kelalan was left empty, Adenan stressed that the Barisan could find a candidate at any time.
“We want the right candidate,” he said.
Asked if Ba'Kelalan would be given to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, Adenan said: “That is your speculation.”
“These (candidates) are the best we are offering. We have chosen winnable candidates and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given his consent,” he said.
Adenan said Najib was aware of the Ba'Kelalan situation.
The seat is held by SPDP secretary-general Nelson Balang Rining, who defeated Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian in the 2006 election. Baru is expected to contest again.
On the whereabouts of Taib, Adenan said the Chief Minister “had another function to attend.”
Earlier, Adenan announced 20 new faces 10 from PBB, seven from SUPP, two from PRS and one from SPDP.
PBB will contest in 35 constituencies, SUPP 19, PRS nine and SPDP eight.
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