PETALING JAYA: "It ain’t over till the fat lady sings", this may be the case with several names which are supposedly in the axed list of Umno MPs circulating around town.
A source close to the party said that the final list may "re-include" several of the candidates namely Tenggara MP Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba(pic), who is the caretaker Science, Technology and Innovation Minister and Tenggara Umno division chief.
It is said that his name was likely listed under the candidates for the 15th General Election (GE15).
“You have to wait until the announcement tonight. Some names may not be dropped,” the source close to Dr Adham said.
Meanwhile, Dr Adham Baba when contacted said that has "no comments" on the matter, as he was focused on his ministerial work.
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Prior to the Barisan Nasional GE15 candidates’ announcement on Tuesday night (Nov 1), there has been talk that several members of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Cabinet have been dropped from contesting in GE15.
These include Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique and Dr Adham.
Other big names and long-term Umno MPs said to be dropped are Jempol MP Datuk Seri Mohd Salim Mohd Sharif, Maran MP Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Mutalib and Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Mastura Mohd Yazid.
On Monday (Oct 31) night, Shahidan seemingly confirmed his non-candidacy when he posted on Facebook saying it was "the saddest night" and announced the closure of all Barisan operational rooms in his constituency.
However, the incumbent Arau MP later said his sadness was due to the closure of the operation rooms which he then said was only for two days.
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He also said that he would be going back to Arau to re-open his operation room.
“It is not closed permanently, I was just sad to see that it was closed for the past two days, now I will go back to open it again.
“The Arau operation room is the first one to open, and to run it, you need money. This is why I supposed it was closed perhaps by some of these young ones who are there,” he said told The Star.
When asked about rumours swirling that his name was dropped from the Barisan GE15 list, Shahidah said that he was not a rumour monger.
“You have to wait for the announcement. I have no such indication about it.
“I don’t mind if I am being fielded or not. If my name is there, then ok, if not, it is up to the party’s decision.
“I only care if they field a candidate who cannot win in the constituency,” Shahidan said, adding that leaving Umno was not in his mind.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan on Tuesday also denied that the party's candidates' list has been leaked.
“You have to wait, the list has not been released or leaked,” he said.
The Maran MP Ismail also played down the issue, by merely asking everyone to “wait and see”.
