ALOR STAR: Kedah Menteri Besar office today denied it has released a preliminary list of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for all 15 parliamentary and 36 state seats in the state for the next general election.
Menteri Besar political-secretary Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin in brushing off the state administration's link to the list, described it as an 'immature work' by irresponsible quarters.
"Evidently, the circulation of the list is an immature act by certain quarters with the intention to create some 'sensation' and a 'disharmony' in the state politics.
"I also do not discount the possibility that it has a link to the opposition party which is trying to create doubts and distrust among the BN component machinery.
"However, I strongly believe that this act will not disrupt the party's unity and focus in preparing for the next general election," he said in a statement today.
As such, Shaiful, who is also Kedah Umno Youth chief urged the wing members and BN component parties not to entertain the fake message, as Umno has a proper system in candidates selection process.
"It is not make sense at all for the party to disseminate such important information via WhatsApp application," he said.
He also stressed that the matter would not disturb the trust and confidence among BN component parties under the leadership of Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah.
The message, which has been circulating via WhatsApp platform since late yesterday, contained the list of purported BN candidates for the 14th General Election.
According to the list, BN purportedly fielding at least five new faces for the parliamentary seats and 10 new faces for the state seats.