KOTA BARU: Barely a day before nominations for the 12th general election, two candidates pulled out from the Kelantan Barisan Nasional list, causing a minor reshuffle in the line-up.

The last-minute changes were due to the reluctance of Datuk Abdul Halim Ahmad and Dr Abdullah Sudin Abdul Rahman to stand in the Pasir Mas and Pengkalan Chepa parliamentary seats respectively.

State BN and Umno chairman Datuk Seri Annuar Musa said the Pasir Mas seat would now be contested by the division's Umno youth chief, Rosdi Mahamad, who was earlier slated for the Chetok state seat.

He said Pasir Mas division chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, who was not on the list, would stand in Chetok while Pengkalan Chepa Umno division vice-chief Rahim Othman would contest in place of Abdullah Sudin.

Annuar said both Abdul Halim and Abdullah Sudin had been keen and had met him to ask to be considered as candidates.
"But they have problems with the grassroots and facing the pressure of becoming a candidate. I have given them time to think and, up to now, they are half-hearted.

"My advice to them is that they should withdraw if they are hesitant. We have many capable people who can fill the vacancies."

He denied the changes would embarass Kelantan BN or affect the morale of party members and supporters.

Pas vice-president Datuk Husam Musa described the changes as a "setback" indicating the candidates' lack of confidence in BN's ability to win Kelantan.