KULAI: The last-minute changes to Barisan Nasional’s list of candidates in the Johor polls were made to accommodate more women and youths in its line-up, says its state chief Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.

       “These changes will not be a problem for Barisan because we wanted to adapt to our new approach of having more women and young faces, including those with good academic qualifications,” he said.

       He was responding to questions about Umno candidates who were earlier announced to be contesting in certain seats but were later dropped and replaced.

       Among the seats include Tanjung Surat whose incumbent Datuk Syed Sis A. Rahman was earlier announced to be contesting before being replaced by Aznan Tamin from Pengerang Umno Youth.

       It was also earlier announced that Mohd Helmy Abd Latif from Muar Youth would be contesting in Sg Balang but he was replaced by Muar Umno secretary Selamat Takim.

       Other Barisan seats with issues that were later ironed out before nomination include Puteri Wangsa and Kemelah.

       Asked about Umno’s election machinery after three days of campaigning, Hasni admitted that it was not yet at 100% but said based on their experience, the momentum would pick up in the coming days.

       “We have ways to reach out to voters,” he said after opening a workshop organised by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia in Senai here yesterday.

       Hasni, who is also Mentri Besar, urged Malaysians in Singapore to exercise their right and participate in the state election as a postal voter.

       He said he was informed that the Election Commission was in the process of sending the ballots to Malaysians in Singapore.

       “Going by past records of those commuting daily, there should be about 170,000 Malaysians in Singapore who are eligible to vote,” he added.

       On another matter, Hasni suggested that the Federal Government look into immediately increasing the daily quota for the land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Land) as a prelude to fully reopening the land borders with Singapore.

       He said both countries should discuss ways to increase the quota from the present numbers allowed.

       “We should classify Covid-19 as having become endemic and look at reopening our border with Singapore as soon as possible.

       “This will spur economic growth, especially in Johor Baru which has been badly hit for two years now due to the border closure,” he said, adding that a large number of Johor’s adult population had also received their booster shots.

       Presently, some 2,100 people travelled using the VTL-Land each way daily.