Datuk Seri Idris Jala has put an end to speculation that he is the "mystery candidate" for the Ba'kelalan constituency.
"I won't be involved in the election. I know there is speculation in the press that I could be the 'mystery' candidate.
"I can confirm categorically I'm definitely not standing for election," said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Monday.
Barisan Nasional Sunday announced its list of 70 candidates for the polls but left a poser over the Ba'Kelalan candidate.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Information chief Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who announced the list, said the Ba'Kelalan candidate would only be revealed just before nomination day on Wednesday.
Adenan told the media that the candidate would remain a "mystery" for now and refused to say if Idris was the "mystery man".
The Borneo Post newspaper Monday quoted Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Datuk Seri William Mawan as saying: "The candidate remains a secret. The Prime Minister is aware of that and he will ensure that Barisan fields the right candidate."
The Ba'Kelalan seat in the remote Baram district bordering Indonesia's West Kalimantan region is one of eight seats allocated to SPDP, one of the four component parties in the state Barisan.
A total of 71 seats are being contested in the election.
Idris, who is the minister in charge of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), also ruled out the possibility of him running for a parliamentary seat in the next general election.
"When I finish my job (at the PM's Department), I will return to a normal corporate job. No hassle," he added.
Idris was managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of national carrier Malaysia Airlines when he was appointed to the Cabinet in 2009.
He is also CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) set up under the PM's Department to monitor several aspects of the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for various ministries. - Bernama
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