PUTRAJAYA: Langkawi hopeful Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the oldest candidate at 96 and two 23-year-olds are the youngest in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Dr Mahathir is the oldest GE15 candidate followed by Parti Perpaduan Rakyat Sabah's (PPRS) Karil Pg Kuraini, 76, who is contesting the Bugaya state seat while Pejuang's Fuaddin Kamaruddin, 70, is contesting the Kubu Gajah state seat.
The Election Commission (EC) said Peggy Chaw, the Independent candidate for the Tenom parliamentary seat and Pakatan Harapan's Muhammad Syahmi Suhaimi, who is contesting the Tambun Tulang state seat, are both 23, the youngest candidates in GE15.
This is followed by Independent candidate Jufazli Shi Ahmad, 33, who is running in Bugaya.
EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh, in a statement on Saturday (Nov 5), said thethere are 1,386 candidates contesting for 222 parliamentary seats and 117 state seats.
Out of this, only 13.49% of candidates or 187 are women, compared with 1,199 men.
Several political parties had been vocal in asking for at least 30% female candidates.
There are also 36 candidates aged between 21 and 29.
Abdul Ghani also said there will be 82 four-cornered fights for parliamentary seats in GE15, as well as a 10-way fight in Batu and a nine-cornered fight in Ampang.
"The EC has also established a total of 625 election campaign enforcement teams to monitor all activities of the candidates who competed during the campaign.
"Campaign materials containing words that can develop negative feelings, racism and that touch on religious sensitivities or incitement that can bring hostility are not allowed," he said.
He added that the 14-day campaign period has begun after the official announcement of candidates was made by the returning officers, and will run until 11.59pm on Nov 18.
Polling falls on Nov 19 and early voting is on Nov 15.
