One-term Rozman to defend Labuan seat in GE14

LABUAN: Labuan Umno division chief Datuk Rozman Isli has been renamed to defend the Labuan parliamentary seat under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket in the 14th General Election (GE14) on May 9.
Rozman, who was a one-term Labuan MP, is expected to face a four-cornered fight with PAS, Warisan and an independent.
Rozman's nomination was announced by Federal Territory BN secretary Datuk Rizalman Mokhtar at Dewan Tun Ismail, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) during the unveiling of BN's candidates for 13 parliamentary seats in the Federal Territory today.
Rozman won the Labuan seat for the first time in the 13th General Election (GE13) in 2013 with a majority of 6,625 votes in a three-cornered fight against PKR and PAS candidates.
"The grassroots voice still wants me to be renominated and therefore I am given the opportunity, I will ensure BN's victory again in this seat with increased majority," Rozman told Bernama when contacted.
He said the BN component parties' election machinery on the island had started making early preparations for GE14 with people-oriented programmes held every week soon after GE13.
"I should be grateful to Allah and thankful Umno leadership for giving me another chance to contest in this election, Labuan will surely contribute one seat to BN with a handsome majority," he said.
Political analyst Dr Romzi Ationg said Rosman was a hardworking and dedicated MP and deserved the renomination.
"Besides having activities in the villages most weekends, he also an approachable MP, and importantly, the people like him.
"Rozman also has full-time officers in his Labuan Parliament Office and Labuan Community Service (PKM) office that the people could approach for help and queries," he added.
The Election Commission (EC) has disclosed that the number of registered voters has increased to 28,356 from 24,474 in the last election.
Labuan EC deputy officer, Marten Abdul Rahman, said of the number, 2,309 were early voters consisting of military and police personnel; five were (postal voters residing overseas) and 26,042 were ordinary voters. — Bernama