PAGOH: Former Johor mentri besar Datuk Dr Sahruddin Jamal (pic) will be challenged by three other candidates in the hotly contested Bukit Kepong seat in the Johor polls.

       Sahruddin will take on Barisan Nasional candidate, who is Umno’s Pagoh division chief Ismail Mohamad, Parti Pejuang Tanah Air’s Md Taib Md Suhut and Nurafiqah M Zulkifli from Muda.

       The four candidates submitted their nomination papers beginning 9am at the nomination centre here Saturday (Feb 26).

       Sahruddin - who was the assemblyman holding the Bukit Kepong seat - was the Mentri Besar from April 2019 to February 2020 following the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

       He had replaced the late Datuk Osman Sapian who resigned from the post after 11 months.

       Osman passed away in December 2021 following a stroke in October of the same year.