DESPITE the troubles over the status of Bersatu, party president Muhyiddin Yassin looks to defend his parliamentary seat for an eighth term as he eyes a comeback in the Johor state legislative assembly, too.

Accompanied by more than 1,000 Pakatan Harapan supporters, the 70-year-old former deputy prime minister was the first to file his nomination papers for the Pagoh federal seat and Gambir state seat at the nomination centre in Pagoh today. 

Muhyiddin is expected to face the Umno Pagoh division acting chief Ismail Mohamed, who also filed his papers at 9.10am. More than 1,000 supporters accompanied the Barisan Nasional candidate while the PAS candidate had fewer than 100 supporters.

Ismail was Muhyiddin’s deputy chief in the Pagoh division before he was elevated following the latter’s sacking from Umno in June 2016. 

PAS candidate, Ahmad Nawfal Mahfodz, 34, is PAS Syura Council chief Dr Mahfodz Mohamed’s son.

At the last elections, Muhyiddin defeated Mohamad Rozali Jamil (PAS) by 12,842 votes after garnering 64.8% of the popular vote. Muhyiddin first won the seat in 1978 before moving to the state seat of Bukit Serampang (1986-1995).

At the state level, the 70-year-old former Johor menteri besar (1986-1995) is expected to face BN incumbent M. Asojan and Mahfodz in the Bukit Gambir seat.

In the last elections, Mahfodz lost to Asojan by just 310 votes.

The nomination centre in the Pagoh sports complex was for the Pagoh federal seat and the Bukit Kepong and Bukit Pasir state seats.

The Election Commission will announce the candidates after the names are sent for vetting at the EC state office. Nominations will close at 10am. There are no more objections period. – April 28, 2018.