JOHOR BARU: Almost a dozen influential Umno division leaders could be fielded as candidates in the upcoming state election.

       Talk is rife that while Umno plans to field many new faces in this election, at least 30% will comprise old faces known to the local communities.

       Johor has a total of 26 Umno division chiefs.

       There is also talk that at least four former state executive councillors, including Datuk Samsol Bari Jamali, Ayub Jamil, Zaiton Ismail and Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, could also be nominated again as candidates.

       If Samsol and Ayub are fielded, this would be their fifth election since their debut in 2004.

       Samsol, a Johor Umno secretary, is the Ayer Hitam Umno chief, while Ayub is a Batu Pahat Umno division member.

       It is learnt that Umno also plans to field more women and youth candidates in this election.

       To prevent “frogs” in the upcoming polls, Umno and all Barisan Nasional candidates taking part in this election are expected to sign a statutory declaration that they will be fined RM100mil if they leave Barisan after the polls.

       This move was introduced in the Melaka polls.

       Even Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad said they would emulate the Melaka move.

       In the 14th General Election, Umno won 17 seats, but three of its assemblymen defected to Bersatu.

       Johor Umno treasurer Datuk Md Jais Sarday said Umno has always had a good mix of new and old faces in each election.

       “It is important to have winnable candidates who the local voters accept,” he said, advising those not picked as candidates to close ranks and work together to ensure Barisan’s strong win in the election.

       On the hefty fine, he said there was a need to have an anti-party hopping law.

       “It’s a good sign that Hasni will table the ‘anti-hopping’ law at the Johor state assembly as a priority if Barisan wins in the election,” he added.