PENGUNJUNG SETIA

20 April 2008

GHANI LIKELY TO DEFEND SEROM STATE SEAT

Ghani likely to defend Serom state seat


MUAR (16 Feb 2008): The position of Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman continues to be mired in uncertainty following talk that he is now likely to seek re-election in the Serom state seat in the upcoming general election.
If that is the case and if he goes on to win the seat, a Barisan Nasional stronghold, his reappointment as the menteri besar is quite certain.

However, there is no official confirmation on this and Johor Umno officials said the speculation would only end on Tuesday when Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi endorsed the final list of BN candidates.

Political sources said Ghani stood a good chance of being retained as menteri besar as he has laid a strong foundation for the Iskandar Development Region and the East Coast Economic Region in Mersing and his service was much needed to ensure continuous inflow of foreign investments to complete the projects for the benefit of Johor folk.

Met before chairing the Umno Ledang division meeting in Tangkak here yesterday, Ghani did not confirm or deny that he would go for the Serom seat.
"It is up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to assign me a state or parliamentary seat. I will abide by his decision."

In the 2004 general election, Ghani was supposed to switch to a parliamentary seat. However, it was said then that the sultan wanted Ghani to serve another term, resulting in the last-minute switch.

Should Ghani go for a parliamentary seat he would likely go for the Ledang seat, switching with Hamim Samuri.

The Ledang parliamentary constituency consists of three state seats -- Gambir, Tangkak and Serom -- which are currently held by M. Asojan, Datuk Yap Chik Dong and Ghani.

In 2004, Ghani polled 11,276 votes against Abu Bakar Tambi (Pas) who obtained 3,195 votes, winning by a majority of 8,08l. In 1999, Ghani contested and won the seat with a majority of 8,248 votes.

During a Chinese New Year celebration organised by the Johor Gerakan in Tangkak on Thursday night, Ghani said Johor BN would submit its candidate list to Abdullah next week.

A committee member when approached after the division's meeting said Ghani called on Umno leaders and members to work even harder to retain the Ledang parliamentary and state seats .

He said Ghani did not disclose where he would contest.

He added the Ledang division pledged that BN candidates would win comfortably in the constituency.

Source: New Straits Times (nstonline)

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