Johor polls: Barisan to reveal candidate list two to three days before nomination day

JOHOR BARU: Barisan Nasional’s candidates for the upcoming state election will be revealed two or three days before the nomination day on Feb 26.

Johor Barisan chief Datuk Hasni Mohammad (pic) said the coalition would be contesting in all 56 state assembly seats.

"Barisan hears the voices on the ground... they want new faces, professionals and young people as candidates.

"Women also voiced their desire to contest so we will take that into consideration too.

"The list would be announced maybe two or three days before nomination day," he told the media after launching co-working space Common Ground Iskandar Space in Iskandar Puteri here on Thursday (Feb 10).

The state Umno chief added that the party was also in the midst of finalising seat allocations with Barisan component parties MCA and MIC, as well as considering fielding candidates from "friends of Barisan".

Asked about the percentage of new faces contesting in the March 12 election, the caretaker mentri besar said it was difficult to state a specific number for now.

Hasni, the former Benut assemblyman, added that he would be continuing his struggle in that seat in the upcoming polls.

On Wednesday (Feb 9), the Election Commission announced March 12 as polling day with nomination day on Feb 26. Early voting is on March 8.