[UPDATED] GE15: Bersatu big guns, Sheraton Move defectors to defend seats

KUALA LUMPUR – Several Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders who were pivotal to the infamous Sheraton Move will be defending their seats in the coming general election (GE15). 

In an announcement event this evening, PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the coalition will contest a total of 169 parliamentary and 116 state seats in the polls.

The list included Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali who will be defending Gombak under the Besatu banner, while Muhyiddin himself will be standing again in Pagoh.

Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu has been confirmed as the candidate in Tambun where he will face off with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, while Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin will be defending Larut.

Caretaker foreign minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah will be defending Indera Mahkota in Pahang, while PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad will be running in Bagan Serai.

The surprise moves include Titiwangsa incumbent Datuk Seri Rina Mohd Harun who will move to Sepang, and Dr Afif Bahardin who is leaving Penang to contest in Shah Alam.

Interestingly, PN has also included controversial businessman Deepak Jaikishan in its line-up. He will be going up against Umno’s Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed in Pulai, Johor.

Other notable individuals include Datuk Kamaruddin Jaafar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Ali Biju (Saratok), and former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Datuk Mohd Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat).

During the announcement, Muhyiddin said that the PN candidates for Terengganu and Kelantan will be announced by PAS tomorrow.

He said the coalition’s candidates for both east coast states will use the PAS logo instead of PN’s.

Similarly, the PN line-up for Sabah will also be announced later in the week, Muhyiddin said.

Earlier, the Election Commission had set November 5 for GE15 nominations, November 15 for early polling, and November 19 for polling day. – The Vibes, November 1, 2022