PUTRAJAYA: Barisan Nasional (BN) will finalise the list of candidates for the 56 Johor State Legislative Assembly (DUN) seats in the near future before announcing it a week before nomination day, said its chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said the move was to provide space to resolve any issues in certain areas sooner.
“I will finalise the list of BN candidates for the 56 state assembly seats in the shortest possible time. We will announce the names of the candidates, God willing, a week before nomination day.
“This is for us to present so that several issues, if any, can be resolved earlier in certain DUNs,” he told reporters after attending the monthly gathering of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), here today.
Ahmad Zahid said BN would continue to maintain the WALI concept in selecting candidates, namely winnable , acceptable and likeable , as well as featuring a combination of old and new faces.
Apart from that, he said BN presents a combination of existing office holders and new faces to enhance leadership talent in Johor.
“This means that these three philosophies will continue to be maintained and God willing, we will make a combination between existing office holders and new faces. This time, new faces will also colour the faces of new leadership talents in the state of Johor,” he said.
Regarding preparations for the Johor State Election (PRN), Ahmad Zahid said BN is currently in the process of strengthening its existing machinery as well as mobilising assistance from other states.
Last Monday, Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi announced the dissolution of the Johor State Assembly effective June 1 after receiving the consent of the Regent Sultan of Johor Tunku Mahkota Ismail.
The Johor state election in 2022 saw UMNO-Barisan Nasional win 40 out of the 56 seats contested, followed by Pakatan Harapan with 12 seats, Perikatan Nasional (three) and MUDA (one).
— BERNAMA