KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 7 — Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) will use a different campaign strategy from previous ones in facing the Sungai Limau state seat by-election on Nov 4.

State Umno Liaison Committee chairman, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said Kedah BN needed to use a different strategy in view of BN now being the government in Kedah and not moving on an opposition platform like before this.

“Usually, a contest between PAS and BN would be tense but this time, we will try to calm the situation to avoid problems for both parties.

“The campaign will also no longer emphasise the different ideologies between PAS and BN, but will instead focus on the good that we (BN) can offer to the voters in Sungai Limau,” he told reporters, here, today.

On the selection of candidates for the by-election, Mukhriz said Kedah BN had shortlisted three winnable candidates who met the main criteria set by the party’s top leadership.

“Among the criteria are that the candidates must be known to many of the voters and have been active in the constituency.

“The final decision on the candidate will be jointly made by the Umno president and deputy president to be followed by the announcement,” said Mukhriz who declined to elaborate on the shortlisted candidates.

Asked on BN’s chances of winning the by-election, Mukhriz said at the moment, Kedah BN placed it at 40 per cent as BN’s preparations were still being carefully planned while the PAS candidate had not been announced yet.

“Right now we are the underdogs, but BN will definitely work hard for a possible win, with the chances increasing based on our group effort,” he said.

The Sungai Limau by-election will be held following the death of the incumbent, former Kedah menteri besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak, from sepsis and multi-organ failure on Sept 26.

In the 13th General Election, Azizan retained the seat with a 2,774-vote majority in a four-cornered contest including including with his own cousin, Mohd Fazillah Mohd Ali from BN.

In YAN, Kedah, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Jerai MP,

Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said choosing a candidate from among the religious would give BN the edge to win in the by-election.

However, he said, to achieve victory, BN could not rely solely on the candidate’s religious understanding but also his efficiency in management and administration.

He believed that a new wave was moving in the Sungai Limau constituency, which was the best opportunity for BN to wrest the state seat from PAS which had held it since 1995.

Earlier, Jamil Khir received two vans (as hearse) worth RM131,000 from Tabung Haji and Bank Islam to be used by the people in the state seats of Sungai Limau, Guar Chempedak and Gurun which are located in the Jerai parliamentary constituency. — Bernama