Johor polls: BN won't use exact mould of strategy used in Melaka, says Zahid

BAGAN DATUK: Barisan Nasional (BN) will not use the exact mould it had applied in the Melaka election for the upcoming Johor polls, says its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

The Umno president added that this included the formula for the selection of its candidates.

"In Melaka, 87% of our candidates were new faces, 84% had high qualifications while those aged below 50 years old constituted more than 82%... however, this same mould will not be applied in Johor as the political landscape is different there,” he said.

The Bagan Datuk MP was speaking to reporters after chairing a meeting with trustees and heirs of Hutan Melintang land lots at Kompleks Umno here Wednesday (Feb 2).

Ahmad Zahid said BN will contest all 56 seats up for grabs and will field winnable candidates who are well-liked and approachable.

"As for Umno candidates, I have asked Johor Umno chief (Datuk Hasni Mohammad) to have discussions with all the division chiefs to come out with names,” he said.

On seat allocations, Ahmad Zahid said UMNO, MCA and MIC have guidelines on how to approach the matter, but added that seats contested by Gerakan in the 14th general election will be taken over by BN.

On Jan 22, Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar consented to the dissolution of the Johor Legislative Assembly to pave the way for the state election.

The previous government led by BN had 28 state seats with Umno holding 14 seats, MIC (two), Bersatu (11), and PAS (one) while Pakatan Harapan held 27 seats - DAP (14), PKR (seven), and Amanah (six). - Bernama