GE14: Kedah BN announces 18 new candidates, including two women

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) today announced its candidates' list for the 14th General Election (GE14) for all 15 parliamentary seats and 32 state seats, comprising a mix of old and new faces, as well as five women.
Eighteen of them are new faces, including three at the Parliamentary-level namely Pokok Sena UMNO chief Datuk Said Ali Said Rastan for the Pokok Sena parliamentary seat; MCA national organising secretary Datuk Yoo Wei How (Alor Setar); Sungai Petani UMNO deputy chief Datuk Shahanim Mohamad Yusoff (Sungai Petani) – the sole woman candidate for a Parliamentary seat.
The 15 new candidates for state seats are Ahmad Azhar Abdullah (Kota Siputeh); Mohamad Nawar Ariffin (Bukit Pinang); Abdul Malik Saad (Alor Mengkudu); Johari Aziz (Anak Bukit); Datuk Abdul Muthalib Harun (Kubang Rotan); Ahmad Fatahi Omar (Tokai); Datuk Boey Chin Gan (Gurun); and Jerai UMNO Division Wanita chief Datuk Norma Awang (Sungai Limau).
Kedah MIC chairman Datuk Jaspal Singh was also nominated to be the new candidate for the Bukit Selambau state seat, as well as Annuar Ahmad (Tanjung Dawai); Ko Hung Weng (Bakar Arang); Tan Kok Seong (Sidam); Mohamed Noor Mohamed Amin (Bayu); K.S. M. Thuraisingam (Lunas) and Datuk Asmadi Talib (Merbau Pulas).
The Kedah BN candidates' list was announced by Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah at Dewan Seri Mentaloon, here today.
Three other women candidates who will be defending their respective state seats are former state executive council members Datuk Suraya Yaacob (Sungai Tiang) and Datuk Norsabrina Mohd Noor (Bandar Baharu), while Padang Terap UMNO Division Wanita deputy chief Datuk Kama Noriah Ibrahim will defend the Pedu state seat.
According to the list, 14 candidates will be defending their state seats, namely Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah (Suka Menanti); as well as state executive council members Datuk Mohd Rawi Abd Hamid (Ayer Hangat); Datuk Aminuddin Omar (Jitra); Datuk Ku Abd Rahman Ku Ismail (Guar Chempedak); Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah (Belantek) and Datuk Badrol Hisham Hashim (Kuala Nerang).
The other returning candidates are Datuk Ahmad Zaini Japar (Bukit Kayu Hitam); Datuk Cheah Soon Hai (Derga); Mahadzir Abdul Hamid (Jeneri); Datuk Ali Yahaya (Pantai Merdeka); Datuk Harun Abdul Aziz (Kupang); Mohd Khairul Azhar Abdullah (Kuala Ketil); Chua Thiong Gee (Kulim) and Nor Saidi Nanyan (Kuah).
The nomination also saw two state executive council members moving to Parliamentary seats, namely, Datuk Dr Leong Yong Kong who is moving from the Gurun state seat to the Padang Serai parliamentary seat, and Datuk Tajul Urus Mat Zain from the Tanjung Dawai state seat to the Merbok parliamentary seat.
Nine incumbents who will be defending their respective Parliamentary seats are Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Othman Aziz (Jerlun); Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharom (Kubang Pasu); Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap) and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom (Jerai). — Bernama