KUALA LUMPUR: The big duel in Tambun is on, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will defend Gombak while Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will also bid to hold on to Pagoh, which he first won in 1978.
These were among the revelations by Perikatan as it announced an ambitious move for 169 parliamentary seats in its first national polls.
“The negotiations have been concluded without any table-banging. They were carried smoothly,” said Muhyiddin in his speech before announcing the line-up yesterday night.
He added that component parties under Perikatan have also agreed to contest under a common banner, except in Kelantan and Terengganu, where PAS will use its logo.
Muhyiddin will contest Pagoh, a seat he won when it was known as Muar Dalam.
It was renamed Pagoh in 1995.
In the 1986 general election, Muhyiddin contested and won the Johor state seat of Bukit Serampang, opening the path for him to become the mentri besar in August 1986, a post he held until May 1995.
His deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu will contest in Tambun, Perak, where he is set for a big showdown with Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali will also defend his seat in Gombak, Selangor.
Azmin defected from PKR to join Bersatu in the Sheraton Move in February 2020, resulting in the collapse of the Pakatan administration, which was replaced by Perikatan.
Larut incumbent Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin will also defend his seat.
The Home Minister won the seat in 2008 on an Umno ticket and successfully defended it in 2013 and 2018.
He then left Umno to become an independent and joined Bersatu in December 2018.
He was subsequently appointed its secretary-general.
Meanwhile, Perikatan Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rina Harun will stand in Sepang in GE15.
Muhyiddin said that names of candidates for Kelantan and Terengganu would be announced within the next two days. Perikatan’s candidate list for Sabah was not announced yesterday.
He added that the coalition would also be contesting in 116 state seats in Pahang, Perak, and Perlis.
“Perikatan will unveil its election manifesto on Nov 6,” he said.
