GE15: Barisan to field up to 70% new faces, says Zahid

BAGAN DATUK: At least 70% of Barisan Nasional candidates contesting in the 15th General Election (GE15) will be new faces, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

The Barisan chairman said those who will be nominated are individuals of calibre, have academic qualifications and are highly committed to helping the people.

According to Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk Umno chief, Barisan would try to meet the demand that 30% of its candidates are women.

He admitted that the decision was difficult to make but was needed to ensure that the people could see that Barisan was making changes to meet the needs of the people.

"I need to be fair and as party president and Barisan chairman, it is also necessary for me to keep the old faces so that the partnership is stable and balanced," he said while opening the Bagan Datuk Umno Division delegates meeting, here on Sunday (Oct 16).

However, Ahmad Zahid stressed that the full selection of candidates had not been finalised and still under scrutiny by the party's top leadership.

According to him, the coalition will contest in 191 of the 222 parliamentary seats and for the first time, Friends of Barisan parties would be given the opportunity to contest on a Barisan ticket.

Friends of Barisan is made up of Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM), All Malaysian Indian Progress Front (IPF), Malaysian Indian Muslim Congress (KIMMA), Malaysian United Indian Party (MUIP), Makkal Sakti and Punjabi Party of Malaysia (PPM). – Bernama