Mahkota polls: Johor Perikatan shortlists three candidates

KLUANG: Johor Perikatan Nasional has shortlisted three names to stand for the upcoming Mahkota by-election, says its chairman Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal.

Dr Sahruddin said the names of the three candidates, who are all men and locals, would be submitted to the coalition’s central leadership.

“We have identified three candidates and will submit their names to the central leadership by this week.

“We will leave it to them to decide and make the announcement,” he said in a press conference after chairing a meeting at the Kluang Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) office here on Wednesday (Aug 14).

When asked if the potential candidates are new faces, he said they are a mix of first-time candidates and those who have contested in past elections.

“The candidates are from component parties in Perikatan,” he said, declining to reveal which parties they were from.

Dr Sahruddin also declined to disclose whether the candidates include former assemblymen or MPs.

“Let us wait for the official announcement,” he said.

Dr Sahruddin, who is also the president of Johor Bersatu, said the coalition has started preparing for the Mahkota by-election.

“We have had a series of meetings to discuss about the by-election, but this is the first meeting we have had since the date of the election was announced,” he said.

Also present were Johor PAS Commissioner Abdullah Husin and state Gerakan chief Datuk Teo Kok Chee.

The Election Commission (EC) has set Sept 28 for the Mahkota state by-election in Johor.

EC chairman Datuk Sri Ramlan Harun said nomination day for the by-election has been set for Sept 14, and early voting would take place on Sept 24.

The Mahkota seat was left vacant following the passing of its assemblyman Datuk Sharifah Azizah Syed Zain on Aug 2.

Sharifah Azizah, 63, died at Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang after suffering from health issues.

During the Johor state election in 2022, Sharifah Azizah won the Mahkota seat with a 5,166 majority against Parti Amanah National (Amanah)’s Taqiuddin Cheman, Bersatu’s Mohamad Nor Lingan and Mohamed Noor Suleiman from Parti Warisan.