JOHOR BARU: Perikatan Nasional will contest in all 56 seats in the Johor election and will be fielding 41 new faces.

       Coalition chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia will contest in 33 seats, followed by PAS (15) and Gerakan (eight).

       “A total of 15 of the candidates are those who have contested in past elections while the remaining 41 are new faces.

       “The candidates come from various backgrounds, including professionals such as a doctor, a dentist, lawyers and lecturers.

       “I believe this is a strong team of a mix of people with experience and new faces that can offer the people of Johor a good government,” he said here yesterday.

       Muhyiddin said the candidates comprised 50 men and six women while 19 of them are those aged 40 and below.

       Asked about the coalition’s candidate for the Johor mentri besar’s post if Perikatan wins, he said that the person would “likely” be from Bersatu.

       “We have the list, but let’s make way for this first (the state election). We will announce it when the right time comes,” he added.

       Perikatan comprises Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Sabah STAR and SAPP.

       Bersatu affiliate wing (non-Malays) deputy chief Dr Choong Fat Full, who is also the party’s candidate for Tangkak, said that seven seats were given to the wing.

       They are the Bekok, Mengkibol, Layang-Layang, Skudai, Tangkak, Penggaram and Senai seats.

       “We wanted to contest in nine seats and we got most of the seats we wanted.

       “We accept the decision made by the leadership, especially as our affiliate wing is still pretty new,” he added.

       Dr Choong is among two incumbent assemblymen who previously contested with a different party. He was the former Pemanis PKR assemblyman.

       Incumbent Endau assemblyman Alwiyah Talib was previously from Umno and will also be defending her seat.