Nong Chik among 12 BN newcomers to contest in FT

Federal Territories (FT) and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin has been confirmed as the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency in the 13th general election.

He was among 12 new faces announced by Federal Territories BN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to contest 13 parliamentary constituencies in FT along with stalwart Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who would defend the Putrajaya seat.

Tengku Adnan, who is BN secretary-general, held the seat for two terms.

The other newcomers are Titiwangsa Umno Division acting head Datuk Johari Ghani who will be fielded in Titiwangsa, Wangsa Maju Umno division head Datuk Shafie Abdullah (Wangsa Maju), Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari (Setiawangsa), Rozman Isli (Labuan), Wanita Gerakan secretary-general B. Jayanthi Devi (Segambut), and Gerakan Youth secretary-general Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai (Batu).

Federal Territories People's Progressive Party (PPP) chairman Datuk A. Chandrakumanan will contest in Kepong, the deputy prime minister said when announcing the BN candidates for the Federal Territory parliamentary constituencies at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.

Four other seats will contested by candidates from the MCA, namely Frankie Gan Joon Zin (Bukit Bintang), Tan Kok Eng (Bandar Tun Razak), Teoh Chee Hooi (Cheras) and Nicole Wong Siaw Ting (Seputeh).

Muhyiddin said the candidates were extensively screened to ensure that they could shoulder the party's aspirations, particularly being able to perform the 1Malaysia concept: 'People First, Performance Now' in serving the people.

"The BN has prepared a strong and dedicated team with high moral and morale," he said, adding the candidates would be able to ensure the BN victory in the polls.

Unlike the opposition which is still at loggerheads over candidates in many areas, the BN has kept its word to make changes in the list of candidates where new faces accounted for 33 per cent of parliamentary seats and 49 per cent for state seats.

The BN will field 73 newcomers for parliamentary seats and 247 for the state seats, the highest number of newcomers in the BN's history.

Apart from Raja Nong Chik, who will take on PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar in Lembah Pantai, another hot seat is Putrajaya where Tengku Adnan will face PAS vice-president Datuk Husam Musa.

In the 2008 general election, BN won only three of the 13 parliamentary seats in FT, namely Putrajaya, Setiawangsa and Labuan.