Politics

Johor Umno hopes ex-MB Khaled Nordin will be fielded in GE15

PONTIAN: Johor Umno hopes party vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin will be given a seat test in the 15th General Election.

Its liaison committee chief Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad said as a senior party leader, Khaled should be given the opportunity to contest in the polls.

"Johor Barisan Nasional has a big responsibility in GE15 because we have to contribute a large number of seats, between 16 and 20.

"So we have to make sure we name candidates who can win," said Hasni, who is also state BN chairman.

In the last general election, Khaled contested the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat, but lost to PKR's Hassan Karim.

He was Pasir Gudang member of parliament before he contested and won the Permas state seat in the 2013 general election and was appointed Johor menteri besar.

Hasni said Johor BN was identifying seats that component parties would contest.

"In GE15, Umno will contest 17 seats, MCA eight and MIC one. I don't expect this to change unless BN at the central level decides to collaborate with other parties."

He said Johor BN would not have problems identifying good candidates.

"Johor is not short of leaders who can be fielded. In fact, we have an excess of capable leaders who can win, so we just need to find the best."

He was speaking after officiating the Pontian Puteri Umno meeting here.

Hasni said he was confident that 60 per cent of BN candidates for GE15 would be new faces.

"We won't have problems meeting the target of 30 per cent women candidates."

He was coy when asked where he would contest in GE15.

"Wherever I contest, it is another effort to improve our chances of winning seats for BN."

Hasni previously said the Umno leadership had given their consent for him to contest a parliamentary seat.

The Benut assemblyman previously contested and won the Pontian parliamentary seat for one term between 2004 and 2008.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories