PUTRAJAYA: A number of new faces will be fielded in Barisan Nasional’s line-up for the Johor election, with the coalition expected to unveil its candidates list a week before nomination day, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Barisan chairman said the coalition would retain its candidate selection philosophy of fielding individuals who are “winnable, likeable and acceptable”.
“The line-up will comprise existing office bearers and new faces.
“The new faces will colour the landscape of Johor’s future leadership talents,” he told reporters.
Ahmad Zahid, who is Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister, said he would finalise Barisan’s list of candidates “within the shortest possible time”.
“We will announce the names of the candidates a week before nomination day. This is to enable us to resolve any issues that may arise in certain constituencies beforehand,” he said.
On preparations for the Johor polls, Ahmad Zahid said Barisan is currently in the process of strengthening its existing machinery.
“We will also be mobilising support from party members from other states to assist the Johor campaign,” he said.
The Johor assembly was dissolved on June 1, paving the way for the 16th state election.
Barisan will be contesting in all the 56 seats in Johor.
The Election Commission has yet to announce nomination and polling dates.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid has called on the ministry to embrace a new discipline centred on delivering tangible outcomes for rural communities rather than merely completing projects.
He said it must accelerate initiatives that bring significant benefits to the people, expand programmes that demonstrate strong results, resolve implementation issues and discontinue projects that are no longer relevant.
“We must move from a culture of saying ‘the project has been implemented’ to a culture of saying ‘the people’s problems have been solved’,” Ahmad Zahid said at the ministry’s monthly assembly.
