KOTA KINABALU: Barisan Nasional is expected to field Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan (pic) as a candidate for the Sepanggar parliamentary seat in the coming polls.
The two-term Kota Belud MP has been holding a series of activities in the racially mixed urban seat while meeting with church and community leaders within the constituency over the past month.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also visited the constituency two weeks ago.
Najib also met with members of the Sepanggar Umno division in what many saw was to soothe any ruffled feathers over Abdul Rahman’s possible candidacy.
The Sepanggar seat is held by Umno’s Datuk Jumat Idris who was suspended from the party in 2015, for six years.
The Prime Minister’s visit was followed by Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein at the Sepanggar Naval base on Monday. He was accompanied by Abdul Rahman.
“It’s up to the Prime Minister to decide on the candidacy,” was Hishamuddin’s reply when reporters asked if Abdul Rahman was a confirmed Barisan Sepanggar candidate.
Abdul Rahman, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, donated RM10,000 to the Malaysian Armed Forces Family Welfare Body (Bakat) during the event.
“He needs to set up his base and prepare now for the election,” said an Umno member.
Abdul Rahman’s move to Sepanggar was to make way for Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak to contest the Kota Belud seat.
Dr Salleh Said, who is Usukan assemblyman, held the Kota Belud seat for two terms from 1999 to 2008.
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