JOHOR BARU: The Johor state election this time is set to be the most crowded one in history with 239 candidates, including 16 independents, engaged in multi-cornered fights in all 56 state seats.

       This is 81 more than the 158 candidates in the last general election (GE14) in 2018. For GE13 in 2013, there were only 120 candidates.

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       A total of 15 political parties are in the fray, but the Barisan Nasional coalition of Umno, MCA and MIC remains the favourite to come out tops after losing the state in 2018.

       Tiram and Kempas are the most crowded seats with seven candidates each, while 37 women are vying for seats, compared to just 20 in GE14.

       The youngest candidates in this election are two 26-year-olds – in the Mengkibol and Tangkak seats – while the oldest is 71-year-old former religious executive councillor Tosrin Javanti from Perikatan Nasional in Bukit Permai.

       At least four incumbent “political frogs” are back under different banners now.

       They are Khairuddin A. Rahim who is contesting the Rengit seat under a PKR ticket, Steven Choong who is contesting the Puteri Wangsa seat under Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Dr Chong Fat Full who is contesting the Tangkak seat as a Perikatan candidate and Alwiyah Talib, who is defending her Endau seat under Perikatan.

       Khairuddin was previously from Amanah, while Choong and Dr Chong were from PKR, and Alwiyah was from Umno.

       Another incumbent, Najib Lep from PAS, decided to contest as an independent in his Bukit Pasir constituency after Perikatan dropped him.

       At least 10 Umno division chiefs will be contesting among the 37 Umno candidates.

       Three Umno leaders are making a comeback including former state religious executive councillor Abdul Mutalib Abd Rahim who is contesting in Layang Layang, former Batu Pahat MP Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi who is contesting in Rengit and fomer Sekijang MP Anuar Abd Manap who is contesting in Pemanis.

       While supporters were banned and the number of people was kept at a minimum, the Covid-19 pandemic still reared its ugly head.

       Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) had to replace its Endau candidate Zaini Tahar, a day before nomination after he tested positive while PKR candidate Naim Jusri for Gambir was confirmed to be positive when he arrived to submit his nomination papers.

       Naim was isolated by the authorities and not allowed into the hall but his nomination was accepted.

       There was also an incident at the Larkin nomination centre when a journalist from a Chinese daily was issued with a RM1,000 compound for not following SOP. Another journalist was given a warning.

       Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Dr Mazlan Ali feels that the political frogs would face a daunting task now that they have switched sides.

       “They will find it more difficult getting support as was shown during the Melaka election when voters rejected political frogs.

       On the high number of candidates, Mazlan said it showed that many parties were using the Johor election as a benchmark for the 15th General Election.

       “We can see it with Pejuang contesting 42 seats in Johor while Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) made a smart move by cooperating with Pakatan Harapan.

       “Parti Warisan also did the same thing by fielding candidates in only six seats, all of which they are likely lose, but they are using the election as a testing ground to see how voting trends will change with the implementation of Undi18,” he added.

       Despite the many parties in action, Mazlan said Barisan was the hot favourite as the state was known to be its fortress.

       However, he warned that Barisan should not take Pakatan and Perikatan lightly as DAP, despite the Chinese anger against it, could still garner support from the non-Malay voters while Perikatan chief Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin remained a popular figure among Malays.

       “Pakatan will need to hope voter turnout exceeds more than 85% if it is to deny Barisan a handsome win.

       “But it will be hard for Pakatan and Perikatan. Barisan has its fixed deposit voters while the opposition votes will be split not only between Pakatan and Perikatan but also among other parties,” he added.

       Meanwhile Election Commission (EC) chairman Datuk Abdul Ghani Salleh said a total of 35 seats would have four-cornered fights, followed by five-cornered (8), three-cornered (7) and six cornered (4).

       He said Barisan and Perikatan would be contesting 56 seats followed by Pejuang (42), Pakatan Harapan (30), PKR (20), Muda (seven), Warisan (six), PBM (four) and one each from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra).

       “No nomination form was rejected and the process went smoothly on Saturday,” he told reporters yesterday.

       He added they would have 56 teams to carryout checks during the campaign period.