Tok Mat to lead BN’s candidate selection, seat talks for Negeri Sembilan polls

KUALA LUMPUR: Negeri Sembilan Barisan Nasional chairman Mohamad Hasan will oversee the selection of candidates and seat allocations for the coalition in the state election on Aug 1.

BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said discussions will also involve Negeri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias and leaders of BN component parties in the state.

“Negeri Sembilan Umno and Negeri Sembilan BN are currently finalising the candidates to be fielded,” Zahid told reporters after a rural and regional development ministry event here today.

“I have left the discussions to the Negeri Sembilan BN chief (Mohamad).”

Mohamad, better known as Tok Mat, is also the deputy Umno president.

Zahid, who is the Umno president, said he met with Negeri Sembilan Umno leaders yesterday to discuss the party’s preparation for the state election.

He said the state election was an “unusual situation” for BN as the coalition will no longer be contesting alongside Pakatan Harapan as it did in the previous state election.

“That is the decision made by Umno and BN Negeri Sembilan. We will be going solo,” he said.

The Election Commission has set July 18 for nominations and July 28 for early polling.

The state assembly was dissolved on June 5 following weeks of political tension which began in May when all 14 BN assemblymen withdrew their support for menteri besar Aminuddin Harun.

They said they withdrew support after citing a loss of confidence in him over his handling of the controversy involving four chieftains who sought to remove Tuanku Muhriz Tuanku Munawir as the Yang di-Pertuan Besar.