Ismail picked for Maran after talks with Pas - Saifuddin

KUANTAN: Incumbent Maran MP Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib's selection as Perikatan Nasional's (PN) candidate in the 15th general election (GE15) was made with the agreement of the Pas representative who had been named for the seat earlier, said Pahang PN chairman Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.

He said negotiations on the candidate change for Maran were conducted in an amicable manner and Ismail's selection was based on the Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister's performance as the MP.

Asked on the people's sentiment regarding the last-minute change, Saifuddin said PN was a very open party.

"I know some are seeing this as switching parties ... (however) it does not come under the anti-party hopping law as it is only applicable after a person gets elected as an MP.

"The priority is to find a suitable candidate, one with a good record," he told a media conference at the Indera Mahkota parliamentary constituency office here yesterday.

Meanwhile, Maran Pas chief Ramli Awang Abdul Rahman confirmed that discussions had been held with Fazil Azmi Nadzri, the one earlier named by PN for the Maran seat.

"He agreed to give way to Ismail," he said, adding that no replacement seat was offered to Fazil.

Ismail has held the seat for Barisan Nasional (BN) since 2004 but was dropped by the coalition for GE15.

Nomination is tomorrow while polling is on Nov 19 and early voting is on Nov 15.

-- BERNAMA