Merely filling seats? Perikatan to contest in all 56 constituencies

KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) became the last major coalition to announce its candidates for the Johor election today, in what is largely an underwhelming affair.

It will contest in all 56 seats up for grabs in the state, confirming at least a three-cornered fight in all of the constituencies.

The announcement made by PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which was streamed live on Facebook, lacks any real big names or major surprises, particularly with the Bersatu president having already announced his decision not to contest.

Muhyiddin’s Gambir seat will instead be taken by former state executive councillor Mohd Solihan Badri, who was previously the assemblyman for Tenang.

Datuk Sahruddin Jamal, who served as the state menteri besar for a mere 10 months during Pakatan Harapan’s time in power, will be defending the Bukit Kepong seat.

Special functions minister Datuk Abdul Latiff Ahmad, who was previously tipped as one of Bersatu’s potential candidates for the menteri besar position, was nowhere to be seen in today’s lacklustre event.

Latiff, who is Mersing MP, was rumoured to contest in Tenggaroh. This seat will instead be contested by PAS’ Roslan Nikmat, who lost Endau in the last election.

Pontian Bersatu division chief and senator Datuk Isa Ab Hamid has been given the tough task of wrestling the Benut seat currently held by incumbent menteri besar, Umno’s Datuk Hasni Mohammad.

For the Layang-Layang constituency, which will be contested by potential opposition’s menteri besar candidate Maszlee Malik, PN has named its state associate wing youth chief Alagenthiran Krishnan.

The lack of big names to fight off the potential menteri besar candidates signal PN’s decision to merely fill up the numbers in some of the more difficult seats.

Perhaps the most interesting candidate for PN is Zulkifli Bujang, the former press secretary to Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who will contest in Larkin.

In his speech earlier, Muhyiddin warned members of all PN components – Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan – to not take personally if their names were not picked for candidacy, warning that any internal friction could hurt its chances in the southern state.

“It doesn’t matter if it is from Bersatu, PAS or Gerakan, every one of us are representatives of PN. If PAS wins, PN wins. The same goes for Bersatu and Gerakan,” he said today.

“I know there are those with the intention to contest. Everyone has their own aspirations, I can’t deny that. But when we are fighting on the same line, we must accept every candidate with an open heart.”

Muhyiddin said the selection of candidates was done after a rigorous process that included screening by police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

He added that all candidates will also have to take an Aku Janji declaration to not be involved in corruption. – The Vibes, February 24, 2022