KOTA BARU: Kelantan Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) admitted that some of its leaders and members were dissatisfied with the selection of Mohd Rizwadi Ismail as the party's candidate for the Nenggiri by-election.
State Bersatu chief Datuk Kamaruddin Md Nor said the leaders and members who were unhappy with the decision were mostly from Gua Musang.
However, he said it was a minority and he believed they were slowly accepting the decision.
"We (Bersatu) do not dismiss the possibility that some among us are dissatisfied with the decision to field Rizwadi, who is the former Gua Musang deputy Pas Youth chief, to contest in the Nenggiri by-election.
"This happened before the announcement was made but l was informed that they have accepted it now, as the decision was made by Bersatu's leadership," he said when contacted.
He said Rizwadi leaving Pas and joining Bersatu just two days before the annnouncement was made should not be made into an issue.
"I knew that many quarters including our rivals have been using this issue to attack us. For me, it is not wrong for Rizwadi to quit Pas and join Bersatu as long as he did not party hop," he added.
On Monday evening, Rizwadi, a retired Royal Malaysian Navy serviceman was announced as the candidate for the Nenggiri state seat by-election.
Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said the 41-year-old from Kampung Bertam Baru was chosen due to his young age and because there was a sizable number of youths among voters.
Rizwadi joined Bersatu just two days before being announced as the party's candidate for Nenggiri.
His selection is believed to be a last-minute decision despite there being two names previously mentioned as potential candidates.
The by-election is being held after the seat was declared vacant following the sacking of its holder, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, from Bersatu.
Nomination day has been set for Saturday, with early voting to be held on Aug 13.