State polls: None of the proposed candidates want to contest Rantau, says Tok Mat

July 16, 2023

State polls: None of the proposed candidates want to contest Rantau, says Tok Mat

REMBAU: None of the four candidates proposed for the Rantau state seat were willing to stand as a Barisan Nasional candidate in the upcoming state polls, says incumbent Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

“I had proposed a few names to be considered by the leadership but all of them have said no.

“It has put me in a difficult situation as we can’t decide,” he said when met at an employment carnival here on Saturday (July 15).

The Defence Minister said he would make a final decision before Nomination Day, and added that he did not rule out the possibility of contesting the seat himself.

“The Rantau folk have also asked me to seek another term. They seem to be quite comfortable with me,” the Umno deputy president said in jest.

Mohamad won the Rantau seat in a by-election after the election court annulled his no-contest win in the 14th General Election in 2018.

Mohamad was declared the winner after his opponent from Pakatan Harapan Dr S. Streram claimed he was refused from handing in his form on nomination day.

In the ensuing by-election, Mohamad won the seat with a 4,510 vote majority in a four-cornered fight.