KLUANG: Perikatan Nasional is expected to announce its candidate for the Mahkota by-election within the next couple of days, says Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
The Perikatan chairman and Bersatu president added that he has received the shortlist from Johor Bersatu.
“The state leadership has forwarded several names to me.
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“I have already discussed it with supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and Johor Bersatu chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal," he said after a kenduri rakyat programme held at Kampung Bentong Luar here on Friday (Sept 6).
Muhyiddin added that the selection would be concluded over the next one or two days.
He added that he was satisfied with the early preparations by Perikatan and hoped voters would support the coalition's candidate.
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Two former election candidates and a football coach are believed to be on the shortlist.
One is Kluang Bersatu chief Mohamad Nor Lingan, who contested the seat in a four- cornered fight in the March 2022 state election.
According to a source, GE15 Kluang parliamentary contender Dzulkarnain Alias is another name on the list.
Dzulkarnain lost to DAP’s Wong Shu Qi in a four-cornered fight.
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The third is said to be 58-year-old Mohamad Haizan Jaafar, a former Kluang football head coach and ex-footballer.
The Mahkota state seat fell vacant when its assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain from Umno passed away on Aug 2, three days after she was hospitalised.
Sharifah Azizah had won the seat in the 2022 state election with a majority of 5,166 votes, defeating candidates from Perikatan, Pakatan Harapan and Parti Warisan.
Polling for the by-election has been set on Sept 28 with nominations on Sept 14 and early voting on Sept 24.
