Datuk Che Zakaria Mohd Salleh. - Filepic/The Star
JOHOR BARU: A former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia member is expected to be among five candidates contesting under the Parti Amanah Negara banner in Johor.
Talk is rife that Datuk Che Zakaria Mohd Salleh, the former Southeast Johor Development Authority (Kejora) chairman is expected to contest in the Pengerang parliamentary constituency.
Che Zakaria, who was previously the Permas assemblyman, left Bersatu and joined Amanah in July 2022.
Amanah is expected to contest five seats in Johor for GE15. The party contested in two seats, Pulai and Parit Sulong, in GE14.
Among the seats that the party are eyeing are Sri Gading, Kota Tinggi and Pengerang, which were contested by Bersatu previously.
Amanah has yet to announce its candidates in Johor, unlike its PKR and DAP comrades in Pakatan Harapan.
Talk is rife that Amanah would contest in Tanjung Piai, but the seat was given to Muda at the 11th hour. This has caused some unhappiness among Amanah's ranks.
It is learnt that Amanah deputy president Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub is expected to defend his Pulai parliamentary seat.
Salahuddin, who is also Johor Pakatan chief said he had no issue defending his Pulai parliamentary seat but would abide by the party's decision if he had to move.
Johor Amanah chief Aminolhuda Hassan is tipped to contest the Sri Gading seat in the upcoming polls.
Johor will not be holding state-level polls concurrently with GE15.
