Husam to contest as PAS takes fight to Umno Malaysian Insider April 9,2013 By Zurairi AR

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 — PAS today announced the candidacy of its national leaders for the general election, with vice-president Datuk Husam Musa confirmed as the candidate for Putrajaya in another sign that (PR) is taking the fight to Umno strongholds.

PAS’s partner the DAP is leading the charge in Johor, another (BN) stronghold, with Lim Kit Siang contesting in Gelang Patah and moving from Penang to Kluang.

Besides Husam, another PAS vice president, Datuk , will also be heading to Johor where he will stand in the Umno bastion of Pulai.

Party president Datuk Seri will be defending his Marang seat, while deputy president will contest in Pendang.

“Ask the voters in Putrajaya, they are wiser,” said Hadi at a press conference here, when asked about the choice of Husam in Putrajaya.

Datuk , another PAS vice-president, will defend his Pokok Sena seat.

Husam admitted that he faces an uphill task to win the Putrajaya seat, but refused to accept that his political career will die a young death should he loses to potential Umno candidate Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Calling the current Putrajaya MP a “great figure and strategist”, Husam was looking forward to win the hearts and minds of civil servants who make the bulk of the administrative capital’s residents.

He also noted that part of his challenge lies with the fact that voters in Putrajaya have little grouses to complain about, with public amenities in tip-top condition.

“Putrajaya is the centre of transformation, it will be the cornerstone for the transformation of the whole country. I am carrying a heavy burden,” he said here.

Salahuddin’s nomination for Pulai is seen to complement DAP’s push for the Barisan Nasional (BN) stronghold.

“When we talk about Putrajaya, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) can never get to Putrajaya if we cannot get any parliamentary seats from Johor,” Salahuddin told reporters here.

Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, was given the nod for Pendang, his seventh seat in the last eight elections.

“For me to contest in a different area is not a news,” Mat Sabu said laughing, as he expressed his confidence that the party’s grassroots can accept his nomination in any seat.

Other names announced by PAS today include renowned architect Raja Datuk Kamarul Bahrin Shah Ahmad (Kuala Terengganu), former police director Datuk Fauzi Shaari (Larut), and popular Malay singer Aishah (Jempol).

The candidates for state seats will be announced by each PAS state divisions in the next few days.

The Islamist party will be contesting 76 parliamentary seats and over 230 state seats in Election 2013.

PAS had won 23 parliamentary seats in the last polls, which saw BN’s worst defeat yet and the loss of four states to PR.

Hakcipta © 2013 The Malaysian Insider Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/husam-to-contest-putrajaya-as-pas-t akes-fight-to-umno/