KUALA LUMPUR: Ahead of nomination day on Saturday (Nov 5), Barisan Nasional has unveiled some of its candidates for the 15th General Election.
At an event to announce the coalition's candidates, it was confirmed that Khairy Jamaluddin would be contesting in Sungai Buloh and Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in Kuala Selangor.
The event at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, which began at 8.30pm on Tuesday (Nov 1), also confirmed that Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be defending the Bagan Datuk seat and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in Bera.
Ahmad Zahid, who was speaking at the event, also confirmed that several long-serving MPs would not be contesting in GE15.
Among them are Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Sri Tan Annuar Musa (Ketereh), Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique (Kota Tinggi), Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba (Tenggara), and Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin (Padang Besar).
Veteran Umno leader Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, the three-term Pasir Salak MP who was recently suspended by the party, was also dropped.
Other notable candidates to be fielded by Barisan are Umno vice president Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin in Kota Tinggi and former Johor mentri besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohamad in Simpang Renggam.
Former Perak mentri besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir will contest Lumut, while Umno supreme council members Isham Jalil and Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jaya will be fielded in Shah Alam and Kangar respectively.
Barisan deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will be standing in Rembau, Negri Sembilan.
Other caretaker ministers who will defend their seats are Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Rural Development Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid( Padang Terap), Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong) and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (Kepala Batas).
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong will be defending Ayer Hitam, former MCA president Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai will make a comeback and contest in Bentong and MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon will contest in Raub.
Datuk Seri Wee Jeck Seng will also defend his Tanjung Piai seat and deputy president Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon will contest again in Tanjung Malim, amongst others.
For MIC, party president and Barisan vice chairman Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran will be contesting in Sungai Siput and MIC deputy president Datuk Seri M Saravanan will be defending Tapah.
MIC vice president Datuk T. Murugiah will be fielded in Teluk Intan while former vice president Datuk Sivarraajh Chandran who contested the Cameron Highlands seat in GE14 will be contesting in Padang Serai.
Sivarrajh won the Cameron Highlands seat in GE14 but on Nov 30, 2018, the Election Court ruled that there had been vote-buying from Barisan during the election campaign and Sivarraajh's victory was annulled.
This triggered the Cameron Highlands by-election which was won by the Datuk Ramli Mohd Nor for Barisan Nasional.
In July 2020, the Court of Appeal quashed the Election Commission's (EC) decision which disqualified Sivarraajh from contesting or voting in elections for five years.
Senarai calon #Parlimen #BarisanNasional Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-15.#PRU15 #BN #KestabilanDanKemakmuran #UndiBN #TolakPH #TolakPN pic.twitter.com/Xjj2V9mH6N
— UMNO Online (@umnoonline) November 1, 2022
