Johor polls: Bersama bans boomers from contesting seats

JOHOR BAHRU - Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) has excluded 'Baby Boomer' candidates for the upcoming 16th Johor state election, ensuring all 15 of its announced candidates are aged 62 and below.

Bersama leader, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, revealed that the final line-up was selected from 73 applicants through a rigorous screening process. The candidates represent diverse professional backgrounds, including community activists, entrepreneurs, doctors, architects, and lawyers, as the party prepares to contest in the Johor state election for the very first time.

Speaking during the candidate announcement ceremony and the launch of the 'Trak Kancil' at Kampung Baru Majidee in Johor Bahru on Friday, June 26, Rafizi emphasised the party's desire to empower ordinary citizens.

To ensure accountability, all 15 candidates have officially declared their assets, income, and expenses via Statutory Declaration (SD). Furthermore, they signed four SD pledges and a conditional resignation letter, which includes agreeing to a RM2 million penalty bond if they breach the agreement by defecting to another party.

The Election Commission (EC) has set June 27, as nomination day, followed by early voting on July 7 and polling day on July 11.

"A total of 73 individuals applied, and some of them were highly qualified. However, we screened and went through that process to ensure Bersama's objectives as we enter the Johor election for the first time.

"We want to show that in choosing candidates, the most important thing is that they have a good background, possess the potential to become leaders, and we want to ensure they can carry the voice of ordinary people.

"We do not need more politicians in Bersama. What we need are ordinary people from among the regular public so that when they enter, and if it is destined that 'we have miracles' and suddenly our candidates win," he said.

The full list of seats and the candidates contesting under Bersama are as follows:

1. N14 Bukit Naning - Iskandar Md Alias
2. N29 Mahkota - Abd Hamid Ali
3. N40 Tiram - Dr Harith Fakhrudin
4. N41 Puteri Wangsa - Nicholas Paul Vincent
5. N42 Johor Jaya - Lau Yi Leong
6. N43 Permas - Dr Zamil Najwah
7. N44 Larkin - Norsinah Abu
8. N45 Stulang - Stanley Tan
9. N46 Perling - Boo Wei Han
10. N47 Kempas - Salamahafifi Yusnanieny
11. N48 Skudai - Eugene Chua
12. N49 Kota Iskandar - Sahrudin Omar
13. N50 Bukit Permai - Aidil Riduan
14. N51 Bukit Batu - Tamili Gopalakrishnan
15. N52 Senai - Tew Chian How