KUALA PILAH: Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith of Perikatan Nasional (PN) is distancing himself from speculations that he is the Negri Sembilan menteri besar candidate if the coalition wins the Aug 12 state election.
The candidate for the Juasseh seat said his priority was to ensure the coalition wins as many of the 36 constituencies up for grabs, thereby increasing its chances to wrest Negri Sembilan from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN).
"Let us focus on facing the first hurdle, which is to ensure PN win all the seats it is contesting in Negri Sembilan.
"As for the question on who will be nominated as the next Negri Sembilan menteri besar, let us leave the decision to the party's top leadership.
"Let us view the matter with an open heart and mind, since I am sure there are certain criteria that must be fulfilled to be nominated as the next menteri besar. However, the focus now is to win the election," said the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme council member.
Eddin, who is former deputy minister in the prime minister's department, is in a straight fight with BN's Puan Sri Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid in the state election.
Bibi Sharliza is the wife of former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Isa Abdul Samad.
On a related matter, Eddin said he believes PN will be able to win 19 seats in the Negri Sembilan polls, which will enable the coalition to form the next state government.
His prediction, he said, was based on the "wave" of support for PN that has continued to grow following the 15th general election in November last year.
"I feel that the target is realistic if we work hard enough to achieve it. And there has been positive response from the people based on the turnout at our ceramah.
"In addition, the wave (of support for PN) is still there. It is up to the people in Negri Sembilan to embrace it or otherwise."
On the contest in Juasseh, Eddin described himself as an underdog since Bibi Sharliza, who is also the Negri Sembilan Wanita Umno chief, is his "senior" and commands a large following in the constituency.
Making the contest a tall order is the fact that the Juasseh seat is an Umno stronghold due to Isa's influence there.
Eddin also vowed not to resort to making personal attacks against his contender during the campaign period.
"I have issued the same advice to the party's election machinery. Let this be a healthy contest.
"What is important is to tell the people what we can do to improve their welfare and livelihood if they vote for PN," he added.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
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