BARISAN Nasional (BN) will be contesting 108 out of 245 seats in six states in the coming polls on August 12, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

He said that 63% of the candidates are new faces, while 18% are incumbents with 20% who are made up of those who have competed, but want to offer themselves again.

“This is proof of the continuity of new and old faces. We also will not forget female candidates, where there are quite a number. Likewise for youth and puteri.”

“We want to highlight what BN and the unity government can offer voters,” he said at the World Trade Centre, in Kuala Lumpur. 

Umno secretary general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced the names of the candidates who will contest.

Among them were several prominent party leaders –  the biggest being Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan, who will be leading the charge in Negri Sembilan.

The Defence Minister, who is Rembau MP, will be defending his Rantau seat.

Negri Sembilan Umno chief Jalaluddin Alias and a former Federal Territories deputy minister, touted as a possible menteri besar candidate is being fielded in Pertang.

The former Negri Sembilan menteri besar’s wife, Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khaled, who is also the state’s Wanita Umno chief, will contest in Juasseh.

Najib Isa, the son of former Negri Sembilan menteri besar Isa Samad, will contest the Bagan Pinang seat.

Asyraf said Kedah BN chief Mahdzir Khalid, a former education minister and Menteri Besar, will contest the Pedu seat, which he won twice in 2004 and 2008.

Kedah BN will defend three seats and field 12 candidates for seats that were either won by Bersatu or PAS in 2018.

He said two former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said and Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman will be contesting the Kijal and Seberang Takir seats respectively.

Former youth and sports minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican will lead the charge in Penang and will run in Bertam.

BN will be fielding only six candidates in the state. –  July 21, 2023.