FORMER senior government officials and prominent professionals are among those seeking to contest under the banner of Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) in the upcoming Johor state election, as the fledgling political party prepares to unveil its candidates later this week.
Bersama leader Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli said the final list of candidates had been completed and would remain confidential between himself and party co-founder Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad until its official announcement in Johor Bahru on Friday night.
Rafizi said the unexpectedly strong response from former senior civil servants and professionals reflected growing confidence in Bersama's platform of integrity, good governance and future-focused leadership.
He also revealed that a number of serving civil servants, most of them Malays, had applied to join the party, challenging claims that Bersama primarily appeals to non-Malay voters.
"That (the list of state election candidates) will be announced very soon, but at the same time we were quite surprised because there were indeed civil servants applying to become members.
"Bersama has managed to break free from the stereotype used against us that Bersama is a non-Malay party seeking only Chinese votes.
"What has exceeded our expectations so far is the strongest support coming from Malay voters, especially professionals, the intelligentsia, including former and senior government officers.
"They offered themselves. So, they are now on the list of candidates we have and will go through the selection process to determine where they will contest if eventually chosen," he told reporters after the Jelajah Kancil Kelantan programme at PCB Resort on Saturday night.
Rafizi said many of those volunteering to stand as candidates were drawn to the party's emphasis on issues directly affecting ordinary Malaysians, including integrity, clean leadership and practical solutions to national challenges.
"What is more important is that they were willing to come forward, offer themselves and place their trust in us. We assumed that people with titles such as Datuk would join other political parties if they entered politics, but with Bersama they seem to have found a natural fit," he said.
The former finance minister added that while preparations for the Negeri Sembilan state election were progressing, with both constituencies and prospective candidates already shortlisted, the party's immediate focus remained firmly on Johor.
Earlier, Rafizi confirmed that Bersama would officially introduce its Johor state election candidates during a live event in Johor Bahru at 9pm on Friday, following the completion of a rigorous vetting process.
"We have completed the screening process for the Johor state election.
"I am grateful because I am confident that the candidates we will announce next week are of a higher quality than those fielded by parties that have existed for decades. Everyone will be surprised.
"Wait until next Friday when we introduce the candidates... as usual it will be live, everyone can tune in at 9pm from Johor Bahru.
"I can tell you that even throughout my time in PKR, it was difficult to find candidates like those coming forward to Bersama who were willing to resign from very senior positions to join us," he said.
Rafizi disclosed that the party had received more than 300 applications within a week from individuals seeking to contest for Bersama in both the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
Applicants underwent several stages of assessment, including detailed personal declarations and interviews, with Rafizi personally reviewing each application.
"I examine every single one. Sometimes I watch the interview sessions several times, not merely to select candidates but also to understand how ordinary people outside politics view the political landscape.
"Almost everyone who came forward to become a candidate is not a politician but an ordinary citizen.
"I was genuinely surprised because in Kelantan alone around 12 people stepped forward, and they are not ordinary individuals. They are all professionals," he said. - June 21, 2026
