State polls: Perikatan names 34 candidates for Negri Sembilan

SEREMBAN: Perikatan Nasional named their line-up for the Aug 12 state polls on Thursday (July 27) night with the most prominent name being former deputy minister Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith who will be contesting in Juasseh.

State Perikatan chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu named 34 candidates, with the remaining two to be announced tomorrow (July 28).

The coalition, he said had yet to decide on the candidates for Sri Tanjung, a Pakatan Harapan stronghold and Barisan Nasional bastion Jeram Padang.

Ahmad Faizal said the candidates had been identified but not named tonight due to some technicalities.

Perikatan is made up of Bersatu, PAS and Gerakan.

It was earlier reported that Bersatu would be contesting 17 seats, followed by PAS (13) and Gerakan (six).

"All the candidates have undergone strict vetting and these are the best that we have come up with.

"We believe Perikatan will be able to put up a strong challenge to take over the state government," he told reporters.

Danni Rais, the son of former Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Rais Yatim will be contesting in Klawang on the Bersatu ticket.

The other candidates to be fielded by Bersatu are Rosmadi Arif (Chennah), Noor Azman Parmin (Palong), Gan Chee Biow (Nilai), Ahmad Raihan Muhamad Hilal (Sikamat), Muhammad Ghazali Zainal Abidin (Ampangan), Jamali Salam (Seri Menanti), Amrina Mohd Khalid (Senaling).

The others are Mohamad Hanifah Abu Bakar (Labu), P. Subramaniam (Bukit Kepayang), Bakly Baba (Chembong) and Ahmad Shukri Abdul Shukur (Kota).

State PAS commissioner Rafie Mustapha would contest the Pilah seat previously won by Pakatan.

Other candidates representing the party are Kamarol Ridzuan Mohd Zain (Paroi), Rozmal Malakan (Rantau), Datuk S.Ragu (Lukut), Abdul Fatah Zakaria (Bagan Pinang), Tengku Abdullah Tengku Rakman (Gemencheh), Amiruddin Hassan (Pertang), Mohd Nordin Hasim (Sg Lui), Mohd Fairuz Mohd Isa (Serting), Datuk Seri P. Kumar (Bahau), Mohd Fadli Che Me (Lenggeng) and Kamarudin Mohd Tahir (Johol).

State Gerakan chief Gary Lee Ban Fatt would fight for the Seremban Jaya seat, another Pakatan stronghold.

The party's other candidates are Tang Jay Son (Chuah), Yong Li Yi (Repah), Ng Soon Lean (Lobak), Chang Er Chu (Temiang) and Lee Boon Shian (Rahang).

In the last state election, Pakatan bagged 20 seats with the remaining 16 going to Barisan.