All members of UMNO or Barisan Nasional (BN) can express their interest and intention to become a candidate to contest in the Parliamentary or state constituencies in the coming general election.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Kota Belud Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan said, however, the decision to field candidates will be ultimately left to the discretion of the party's top leadership.

"You (party members) can express your intention to offer yourself as candidate including me, but at the end of the day, we leave it to the decision made by the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak) and the Sabah Chief Minister (Datuk Seri Musa Aman)," he told reporters after handing over two vans to the Christian community here on Saturday.

He was asked to comment on the intention of a certain leader here who wanted to return to active politics and become a candidate in the 14th general election.

In the meantime, Abdul Rahman also said he was keen to defend his Parliamentary seat so as to continue fighting for the betterment of the people in his constituency.

"I am a party man. If they (top leaders) believe I am the best, then I will be here (Kota Belud). If they believe somebody else should take over, I leave it to their good judgement because this is what makes UMNO and BN strong.

"We rely on the wisdom of our top leaders' decision," he said, adding that the Kota Belud seat was traditionally part of UMNO''s quota.

-- BERNAMA