JOHOR BARU, Nov 1 — The Tenggara Barisan Nasional (BN) division today urged the coalition’s national leadership to heed its grassroots voices, who want Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba retained as a parliamentary candidate for the 15th general election (GE15).

Tenggara BN deputy chief Nasaruddin Ahmad said the entire division consisting of Umno, MCA and MIC members hopes Dr Adham, as the incumbent MP, will be retained as the coalition’s GE15 candidate for the central-eastern Johor constituency.

"We want BN and Umno to understand that Dr Adham, who is an exemplary leader to us, should still be reconsidered as the Tenggara MP candidate.

"For us, he is our ‘WALI’ (winnable, acceptable and likable) category candidate and he has our undivided support.

"I fear that if Dr Adham is not nominated, such a decision will affect BN’s chances and a catastrophe is waiting to happen in Tenggara,” said Nasaruddin at a press conference at the Tenggara Umno division office in Taman Daiman Jaya, Kota Tinggi that was attended by about 100 BN members today.

This followed rumours that Dr Adham, who is the caretaker science, technology and innovation minister and Tenggara Umno division chief, has been dropped from BN’s GE15 candidate list.

The afternoon press conference, led by Nasaruddin, was also broadcasted on Facebook Live.

Nasaruddin, who is also the Tenggara Umno deputy chief, said it was difficult for the division to accept anyone else as a BN candidate for GE15.

"We don’t want a candidate that lobbies for themselves and does not have what it takes to lead.

"To be a prospective leader, many will offer themselves as a candidate. However, in Tenggara BN, there is only one name that we want and that person is Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba,” he said.

Nasaruddin said that Dr Adham has been in politics since the 1990s and has been a two term Tenggara MP and prior to that a two term Pasir Raja state assemblyman.

He explained that despite the 60-year-old medical doctor’s busy schedule, Dr Adham will make it a point to visit his constituency and take care of its residents.

"Even in the last 14th general election (GE14) in 2018, during the political tsunami where many BN leaders lost, Dr Adham still secured his position due to his strong support in Tenggara,” he said, adding that the division hopes BN’s leadership in Kuala Lumpur takes a serious view of their demands.

Nasaruddin said today’s events had stemmed from strong rumours that Dr Adham’s name has been dropped from the BN’s GE15 candidate list.

Checks by Malay Mail showed that the BN’s national leadership are looking to name the Tenggara Umno division Youth chief as a candidate.

"Even at the final hour yesterday, Dr Adham was not called to sign any documents and his name is still not being nominated by BN’s leadership.

"With that, we will try our best to have his name put forward. We also hope our voices from Tenggara BN are heard by the national leadership,” said Nasaruddin.

The Tenggara parliamentary constituency, next to the Kota Tinggi district, was created in 1994.

It is a Malay majority seat, making up 74.68 per cent. The Chinese make up 16.13 per cent, followed by the Indians at 6.58 per cent and other races at 2.61 per cent.

The Tenggara parliament constituency is seen as a BN stronghold where the ruling coalition had in the past secured more than 50 per cent majority support.

Yesterday, rumours pointed to a number of BN Cabinet members and Umno leaders not aligned with Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi being dropped from the polls line-up.

The names included Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin and Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, all of whom are seen as critical of Zahid and the so-called court cluster group of party leaders.