MUAR - The Bukit Kepong state seat has officially been confirmed as a three-cornered fight in the 16th Johor state election, with incumbent Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal of Perikatan Nasional (PN) facing Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Returning officer Mohd Hisam Said declared the nomination process at the Bukit Kepong nomination centre closed at 10am.
He said all three candidates successfully submitted their nomination papers within the stipulated timeframe, with no objections or rejections.
“Sahruddin submitted his nomination papers at 9am, followed by PH candidate C Subramani at 9.07am and BN candidate Ahmad Syarie Yusof at 9.12am.
“Following the verification process, and after all requirements were found to have been fulfilled, the Election Commission (EC) confirmed that all three candidates are eligible to contest,” he said.
Hisam also announced the candidates’ ballot positions, with C Subramani (PH) assigned number one, Ahmad Syarie Yusof (BN) number two and Dr Sahruddin (PN) number three.
Earlier, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accompanied Sahruddin to the nomination centre at the Pagoh Sports Complex, while Deputy National Unity Minister and Segamat MP R Yuneswaran accompanied PH candidate C Subramani.
All candidates entered the nomination hall at around 8.50am to submit their nomination papers.
For the record, Sahruddin won the Bukit Kepong seat in the 2022 Johor state election after securing 9,873 votes, defeating BN candidate Ismail Mohamed, who garnered 9,163 votes, by a majority of 710 votes.
Also contesting in 2022 were Muda candidate Nur Afiqah M. Zulkifli, who received 3,076 votes, and Parti Pejuang Tanah Air candidate Md Taib Md Suhut, who secured 191 votes.