ALOR GAJAH, Oct 2 — Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan has suggested that Barisan Nasional (BN) announce its candidate list for the Melaka state election early.

Ahmad, who is also Umno War Room Secretariat chief, said an early announcement would give shortlisted candidates sufficient time to prepare and introduce themselves to voters.

“The earlier, the better. We hope the best candidates will be fielded, whether they are incumbents or new faces,” he told reporters after attending the handover ceremony of completed Public Works Department (JKR) projects to the Education Ministry at SMK Durian Tunggal here today.

Ahmad, who is also Deputy Public Works Minister, said BN’s candidates for the Melaka state election would undergo three levels of screening before a final decision is made by the party’s top leadership. — Bernama