KOTA KINABALU, March 30 -- It is still uncertain whether Barisan Nasional (BN) will field Datuk Ir Shahelmey Yahya in the coming state elections.

Shahelmey, responding to Sabah BN chief Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin's recent statement that he should not expect to contest under the banner, reiterated that the final say still lies with the central BN leadership.

"That is his stand as the Umno Sabah chairman, but we realise that the selection of candidates will be decided by the central BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, so I will leave it to him.

"When I made the statement last week, it was not because I was scrambling to lobby myself, but to say that the Tanjung Keramat machinery is always ready to face the coming state elections...