“I will not contest” says Khir Toyo 

By Erna Mohd Yusof

erna@themalaysiantimes.com.my

KUALA LUMPUR : Former Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Khir Toyo today, unofficially announced that he would not be contesting for any constituency during the coming 13th General Election (GE).

In a telephone interview with The Malaysian Times (TMT), Khir said this is to allow new faces to lead the party.

His hope is for Barisan Nasional (BN) party leaders to make wise choices in choosing their candidates as this will in turn ensure a win for the party in Selangor.

“I will not contest this year. I have decided to rest and spend time with my family. BN should allow new faces to contest in this coming election. A candidate plays a vital role in ensuring a win,” he said.

He added that new faces in BN would increase the government’s chances of regaining their position from the opposition.

“New faces should be given the opportunity in representing the party. They should have party experience and must be close to the people. For example, several constituencies in Selangor such as Shah Alam has a high number of voters who are highly educated, so the candidates chosen should be able to mix with these people aggressively.”

He added that BN should work hard during their campaign as the party has a 50-50 chance of regaining their seats in Selangor.

“During this critical situation, every vote is vital. Every single vote can decide whether a party wins or losses,” he said.

Speaking on another matter, Khir had slammed Selangor’s government for using the RM300 million Selangorku fund for political gains.

“Pakatan has the advantage as they currently lead the state government. However, they do not have a good management system especially in regards with the RM300 million funds – TMT