SEREMBAN: Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was among 16 new faces named by the state Barisan Nasional yesterday to contest in the general election.

Also in the list was Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who will be defending his Jelebu parliamentary seat.

Khairy, who is also the Rembau Umno Youth chief, will contest the Rembau parliamentary seat.

Kuala Pilah Umno Youth chief Abdul Samad Ibrahim, will contest the Seri Menanti state seat while Rembau Umno Youth treasurer Zaiful Bahri Idris will stand for the Chembong state seat.

Former federal territories minister and Negri Sembilan menteri besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad was not named to defend the Jempol parliamentary seat as he is still serving a suspension after being found guilty of breaching the party code of conduct during the last Umno polls in 2004.
Four state executive councillors and Lenggeng incumbent Datuk Ishak Ismail, who is also the Seremban Umno chief, were dropped.

The four state executive councillors are Datuk Mohamad Rais Zainuddin (Chembong), Datuk Zakaria Nordin (Ampangan), Datuk Norhayati Omar (Pilah), who is also the state Wanita Umno chief, and Datuk Ir Jamlus Abd Aziz (Gemas), who is the state Umno Youth chief.

Others not selected included Puteri Umno Malaysia assistant secretary Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid, who is the incumbent for the Paroi state seat.

The candidate list was announced by state BN chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, who is the menteri besar, at his official residence yesterday. He will be defending his Rantau state seat.

Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor will defend his Tampin parliamentary seat for the third term, while State Assembly speaker Datuk Lilah Yasin, who holds the Serting state seat, will contest the Jempol parliamentary seat.

Umno will contest five parliamentary and 22 state seats, MCA will contest two parliamentary and 12 state seats, MIC will contest one parliamentary and two state seats and Gerakan will contest two state seats.

MCA has named six new faces in the line-up. They are Siow Shen Tin (Chennah), Seow Koi Voon (Lobak), Jason Lee Kee Chong (Temiang), Cheok Leong Huat (Lukut) and Yap Seong Foo (Repah).

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk S. Sothinathan will defend his Teluk Kemang parliamentary seat, while state MIC chairman Datuk T. Rajagopalu will defend his Port Dickson state seat. First-timer, V. Mogan will contest the Jeram Padang state seat for the MIC.

State Gerakan chairman, Datuk Woo Ah Lek and his deputy will defend their Senawang and Bukit Kepayang state seats respectively.