Johor polls: Election swings into full gear with nominations tomorrow

JOHOR BAHRU - The 16th Johor state election is heating up after all major political parties announced their list of candidates to contest the 56 seats available in the state.

Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) are the only two coalitions to contest all 56 seats, with PH announcing their candidates first - PKR with 20 candidates, Amanah with 19, and DAP with 17 candidates, the majority of them revealed by PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a ceremony in Bukit Gambir on Monday.

BN, who are going solo for the Johor polls, announced its candidates on Wednesday, a combination of old and new faces - 37 candidates from UMNO, 15 from MCA and four from MIC, while the third major coalition, Perikatan Nasional (PN) announced 33 candidates - 16 from Bersatu, 11 from PAS, five from Malaysian Indian Progressive Party (MIPP) and one from Pejuang.

MUDA will contest in four seats, including defending their Puteri Wangsa seat, while Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s  (PSM) sole candidate, Amir Syafiq Ameer Soekre, 40, will stand in Skudai.

Newcomer Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) is scheduled to announce its candidates and launch its campaign machinery tonight.

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Social Sciences and Humanities Faculty director Assoc Prof Dr Mazlan Ali said attention is expected to focus on several key battleground seats featuring contests involving prominent candidates, particularly in constituencies that were won by narrow majorities in the last state election.

There are seven "critical” seats with majorities of fewer than 1,000 votes, namely Bukit Batu (PH, 137 votes), Bukit Pasir (BN, 198), Parit Yaani (BN, 294), Tangkak (PH, 372), Serom (BN, 699), Bukit Kepong (PN, 710) and Jementah (PH, 714).

A contest of note is Puteri Wangsa, where former Education Minister Maszlee Malik has been fielded by PH and is expected to face Teow Chia Ling of BN, Rashifah Aljunie of MUDA and a Bersama candidate to be announced tonight.

Political speculation suggests that PH may nominate Maszlee as its Menteri Besar candidate should the coalition emerge victorious in the Johor state election, further heightening interest in the contest for the closely watched seat.

Another seat of interest is Bukit Kepong, where former Johor Menteri Besar Sahruddin Jamal, representing PN, is expected to face, among others, BN candidate Ahmad Syar'e Yusof and PH candidate C Subramani.

"Meanwhile, the Machap seat is also attracting attention as Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi is being challenged by PH's young candidate and lawyer, Nor Hafiz Roslan,” Mazlan said when contacted, adding that other contests of interest would be Pasir Raja, where former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba, a two-term winner, is contesting, and Larkin, where Pulai MP Suhaizan Kaiat will take on incumbent Mohd Hairi Mad Shah of BN.

Amanah also caused a notable surprise by fielding its only Chinese candidate in the Permas state seat, Johor Amanah Women (Warda) chief Sharon Teo Siew Hui.

Mazlan said voter turnout is expected to be the most important factor in determining the outcome of this election, particularly involving young voters and undecided voters.

"A high turnout can often change the pattern of results in marginal seats. That is why a party’s ability to mobilise its supporters to come out and vote will be one of the key determinants of victory,” he said.

Nominations will begin tomorrow, and a campaigning period of 14 days will begin after nominations end, with early voting being held on July 7, and polling day on July 11.

According to the Election Commission’s statistics, 2,727,926 registered voters, comprising 2,703,175 ordinary voters, 12,041 military personnel and their spouses, and 12,710 police personnel and their spouses, are eligible to cast their ballots.

For the latest news on the 16th Johor state election, please visit https://prn.bernama.com/johor/. - BERNAMA