KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — Caretaker Federal Territories minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim as well as communications and multimedia minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa have been dropped from competing at the 15th General Election (GE15) by their party Umno today.

Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made the announcement today during an event introducing Barisan Nasional's candidates at the World Trade Centre here.

Their exclusion will be viewed as Zahid consolidating his hold on Umno by dropping party leaders who previously showed open dissent when he was trying to bring it to heel for his demand of an immediate general election.

Shahidan was among those who did not immediately toe the party line when Zahid pushed for a snap poll, and instead echoed critics’ argument that it would be more prudent for Malaysia to brace for its annual flood season.

Annuar had been even more defiant towards Zahid, refusing to stand in a show of support when the party president urged attendees at a BN event in June to rise and tell caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that they wanted an early 15th general election.

While the two senior leaders have been dropped, most of those seen to be in Zahid’s camp have been retained.

These include former BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor in Putrajaya and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan in Pontian.

Notable newcomers include caretaker finance minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, who will make his electoral debut in Kuala Selangor as rumoured, and former national footballer Datuk Ramlan Askolani, who will attempt to unseat PKR’s Fahmi Fadzil in Lembah Pantai.

Former deputy home minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed will also make a comeback in Pulai.