JOHOR BARU: The last minute postponement of the announcement of the state Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) list of candidates on Tuesday night raises the question of whether the list is ready.
It is contesting in 10 parliamentary and 18 state constituencies in Johor in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Some have claimed that there are two lists – one approved by the party’s central leadership and another by its state leadership.
There is also talk that the party is looking for ‘safe’ seats for some of its candidates.
Johor PPBM secretary Datuk Osman Sapian said today that the postponement was due to last minute changes to ensure that each candidate was suitable for the constituency that he would contest in.
“The list of candidates is ready. The only detail that we have not finalised is where they will contest, which caused the postponement of the announcement.
“Now, everything has been settled and the chairman, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will make the announcement in Pagoh tomorrow,” Osman told the New Straits Times.
He said the candidates comprised seven former Umno members, four from its women’s wing, and two from its youth wing, while the rest were new faces.
“Our candidates are highly qualified. They have at least one degree,” said Osman.
The only Johor candidates that PPBM has confirmed are party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who will defend his Pagoh parliamentary seat and contest in the Gambir state seat, and Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who will contest in the Muar parliamentary constituency.