BARISAN Nasional (BN) will announce its full list of candidates for the 14th general election (GE14) on April 2, five days before the party launches its manifesto, according to a report by Malay-language daily Berita Harian.

The pro-government newspaper cited sources as saying Prime Minister Najib Razak will make the announcement at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), along with leaders of the BN’s 13 component parties.

Appointment letters will then be presented to the candidates.

When asked to confirm the news, Umno information chief Annuar Musa did not deny the possibility of the announcement being made before BN’s manifesto launch for GE14, which is predicted to be on April 7 at the Bukit Jalil Stadium.

“Maybe the announcement for the candidates would be early because BN is clearly ready for the elections,” he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.

He added that Najib has finalised the list of candidates and it depends on him to make the announcement.

“Maybe someone made a speculation that it will be announced on April 7 but it is not impossible for the prime minister to announce it earlier because the prime minister is ready.”

The Malaysian Insight previously reported that the Dewan Negara sitting, which was scheduled to end next month, has been brought forward to end on April 5, together with the final day of the Dewan Rakyat.

This raised the question of the possibility of GE14 being held either at the end of April or May.

The amendment of the date also sparked speculation that Parliament will be dissolved earliest by April 6, which is one day after the sixth term of the Parliamentary sitting ends.

Putrajaya will be tabling the electoral re-delineation draft in Parliament on March 28, Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia announced today.

The proposal was distributed to members of parliament today but cannot be made public until it is tabled next Wednesday.

The bill only needs to be passed by a simple majority before being presented and approved by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. – March 22, 2018.