UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah described the two Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who will contest in the 15th general election on a Perikatan Nasional (PN) ticket as “not true party fighters”.

He said a true leader would understand that the party leadership needed candidates who are more eligible to serve the people.

Tengku Razaleigh, who is the incumbent Gua Musang MP, said the party’s move in dropping some old faces from the list of candidates for the coming polls did not mean that they were not good, but to put forth new blood who can serve the people better.

“My time will also come when I may no longer be nominated by the party to contest again. So we have to understand. The fact is, we want the party to win, not we (personally) to win,” he told reporters after opening the Ku Li Cup Netball Tournament at Bukit Cekati in Gua Musang today.

Tengku Razaleigh said politicians must realise there is an expiry period for their services.

“We are a tool for the people and also for the party. When the time comes, we have to leave the scene,” he added.

Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang announced that caretaker Federal Territories Minister Shahidan Kassim, who is the incumbent Arau MP, and caretaker Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Ismail Abdul Muttalib, the incumbent Maran MP, will defend their respective seats as PN candidates.

BN had dropped them as candidates for the upcoming polls. – Bernama, November 4, 2022.