This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 24, 2018

JOHOR BARU: Johor Barisan Nasional (BN) has announced its candidates for the 14th general election, led by Menteri Besar Datuk Khaled Nordin, who will be contesting in the Pasir Gudang parliamentary seat and defending the Permas state seat. Most of the state BN leadership will be defending their respective constituencies.

Khaled said Umno would contest in 16 parliamentary and 35 state seats, MCA eight parliamentary and 15 state seats, MIC one parliamentary and four state seats and Gerakan one parliamentary and two state seats, Bernama reported.

“Of the 20 parliamentary seats won by the BN in the 13th general election, 15 incumbents are retained, while two incumbents — in Pasir Gudang and Kota Tinggi constituencies — have been dropped,” Khaled said.

Among those left out is Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi who was expected to be the coalition’s candidate for the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat.

Replacing Puad is Umno division women chief Haliza Abdullah. On her surprise candidacy, Haliza said she accepted the decision made by the party’s leadership.

“We will continue working for the people in Batu Pahat and will do our best to win back the seat. I am still surprised by this candidacy, but we have to accept the party’s decision and work together to bring victory to Barisan Nasional,” she said.

Rumours of Puad not being considered as a candidate for Batu Pahat have been going around for some time. On Sunday night, a text message, believed to have come from Puad, went viral. In the text message, Puad allegedly said he did not accept the central leadership’s decision to drop him.

The message also stated Puad will be contesting in the Batu Pahat parliamentary seat and Senggarang state seat as an independent candidate. Besides Haliza from BN, the Batu Pahat seat will be contested by a PKR candidate.

In GE13, PKR candidate Datuk Mohd Idris Jusi wrestled the seat from Puad with a majority of 1,732 votes. PKR had yet to announce its lineup for Johor.

Among the 15 incumbents to defend their respective seats are Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (Sembrong), Felda chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad (Johor Baru), Johor BN deputy chairman Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Health Minister Datuk Seri S Subramaniam (Segamat), MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong (Ayer Hitam) and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang).