BARISAN Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Mohamad Hasan today gave his clearest hint yet that he will defend the Rantau state seat and contest a parliamentary seat in the upcoming general election. 

Mohamad, who has successfully defended Rantau since 2004, is optimistic about retaining the state seat, as he is confident the multiracial electorate in the constituency will continue to throw its support behind BN. 

“Malay voters here make up only about 51%, so it needs to be managed well, God willing, I will be defending the Rantau seat in GE15. 

“As I am Umno deputy president, I also need to contest a parliamentary seat to play a role at the federal level,” he told reporters at the end of the Semarak Merdeka programme in Rembau.

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar and Umno Rembau division chief, however, did not specify which parliamentary seat he is eyeing. 

“Senior party leaders must have roles at the federal level to manage the party and God willing, we will have the chance to form the federal government if the voters are confident in us,” he said. 

The Rembau parliamentary seat is currently held by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. 

On potential BN candidates in Negri Sembilan, Mohamad said the matter has not been discussed yet and BN’s focus currently is to strengthen the party election machinery.

“I have gone down to all the states, including Negri Sembilan, to check on preparations and also the need to mobilise grassroots support… matters concerning candidates have not been discussed,” he said. – Bernama, September 3, 2022.