BN candidates list expected to be announced this week - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that the list of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the 13th general election (GE13) is expected to be announced within this week.

He said this was because the process of finalising the list of candidates for the coalition had yet to be completed.

"...yet to be finalised. Will be announced in a few days' time," he told reporters at a 'Meeting of the BN Chairman with Party Machinery' programme at the Putra World Trade Centre, here today.

Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said the process of selecting and allocating seats for the GE13 would take into account the results of the 2008 general election and the current demographic condition in each constituency to ensure victory for the party.

"Basically, we use the 2008 template with slight changes based on the results of the 2008 general election...how the BN will boost its chances of winning," he said.

Najib said the candidates selected would be able to form a strong government at the national and state levels.

Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the selection of BN candidates also depended on the public acceptance, capability and track record of the candidates besides taking into account the equitable factor between the BN component parties.

"We have the mainstream (party), (wings) Wanita, Youth and Puteri...everyone has aspirations. We have to consider the overall (requirements) so that the decision will be the fairest possible," he said.

Asked on the criteria for the BN winnable candidates, Najib said personality, capability, leadership quality and individual experience were the basis for the selection of party candidates.

Also present were BN deputy chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

On the meeting with about 2,000 members of the BN machinery today, the Prime Minister said it aimed to explain the final process of preparation by the party to face the GE13.

"I had taken the opportunity to explain several factors that must be taken into account in deciding the seats and candidates so that they would understand that it was a complex and difficult process.

"It's not possible for the party to accommodate the requirements of everyone or to satisfy all individuals. This is impossible," he explained.

Thus, he wanted BN members to understand the actual fact that the objective of the general election this time was not merely to be selected as candidates, but to form a strong government at the national and state levels.

"If we understand why the general election is held, we will not allow sentiments or other considerations to replace the consideration for the party," Najib stressed.

On the tendency of some party members to be sulky when not selected as candidates, Najib said the BN would try to minimise this problem.

"That's why, in my speech I said that the best is if they are disappointed, it should be for 24 hours only. After that, they must get down on the ground," he said.

On the dates for nomination and polling which were announced by the Election Commission (EC) today, Najib said: "It is the decision of the EC, we accept. It means that they (EC) tried to make a decision that reflects a healthy democratic process in Malaysia."

The EC has fixed the polling day for the 13th general election to be May 5 while nomination day has been set for April 20.