PAGOH: The Bukit Kepong seat will see a three-cornered contest in the Johor state election, with Perikatan Nasional (PN), Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) vying for the constituency.
Bersatu's Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal, who is seeking a third term as Bukit Kepong assemblyman after winning the seat in 2018 and defending it in 2022, will face Barisan Nasional's Ahmad Syar'e Yusof and Pakatan Harapan's C. Subramani.
Election Commission (EC) returning officer Mohd Hisam Said announced the list of candidates at 10am after nominations closed.
Subramani will contest at the top of tthe ballot number one, followed by Ahmad Syar'e and Sahruddin in the third spot.
Supporters from the three coalitions gathered outside the nomination centre at the Pagoh Sports Complex from early morning to cheer on their respective candidates.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin expressed confidence that Sahruddin would retain the seat, citing his track record as the area's elected representative.
"I am confident because of the service he rendered when he was the people's representative. Many voters in Pagoh and Bukit Kepong know him well.
"I hope they will once again give him their strong support and elect him as the Bukit Kepong assemblyman," he told reporters after accompanying Sahruddin to the nomination centre on Saturday (June 27).
Muhyiddin said Bersatu hoped all Perikatan candidates in Johor would receive voters' support, adding that the coalition would continue focusing on bread-and-butter issues such as the cost of living, job opportunities and improving livelihoods.
Ahmad Syar'e, who is also Pagoh Umno deputy division chief, said he was confident of recapturing the seat, saying voters would judge the incumbent's performance after two terms in office.
The first-time candidate said he was not intimidated in facing a former Johor mentri besar.
"I don't see it as pressure because politics is a team effort.
"Sahruddin has been given the opportunity to serve as the elected representative for two terms. The people can judge for themselves what has been done for Bukit Kepong during that time," he said.
Ahmad Syar'e claimed several housing projects and development plans had not materialised, adding that Bukit Kepong had not received the attention it deserved despite having a former mentri besar as its assemblyman.
He said Barisan would campaign on the incumbent's track record while highlighting issues affecting local residents.
He also expressed confidence that the party's machinery would mount a strong campaign, noting that he had served as Barisan Nasional's coordinator for the Bukit Kepong constituency over the past three years.
Meanwhile, Subramani said his name would appear on the ballot paper simply as "Mani" as that is how he was known to local voters.
The PKR branch chief expressed confidence of wresting the seat, citing his nine years of grassroots service in the constituency.
Subramani, who previously contested the Buloh Kasap seat, said he chose to stand in Bukit Kepong because it falls under his party branch.
He said residents had raised several local issues during his visits throughout the constituency, including poor street lighting, the lack of development at the Bukit Kepong historical gallery, limited job opportunities and a shortage of affordable housing.
