MOST heads of major political parties are defending their seats in the 14th general election, with the exception of PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is moving from Permatang Pauh, Penang to Pandan, Selangor.

Her daughter and party vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar will instead contest in Permatang Pauh, the traditional seat of her father, jailed opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim.

Attempting a comeback to Parliament is Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, who will contest in Kota Raja. Mohamad was a PAS MP in Kuala Kedah from 1999 to 2004.

Amanah is a splinter of the Islamist party.

Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) president Joseph Kurup is the only political party head who is not contesting. He is making way for his son, Arthur Joseph Kurup, to defend the Pensiangan seat.

The Kitingan brothers in Sabah, Joseph Pairin and Jeffrey, who lead rival parties, will face off in the Keningau parliamentary seat and in the Tambunan state seat.

Joseph Pairin is president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), a Barisan Nasional component party, while Jeffrey heads state opposition party, Sabah Star Party (STAR).

Below is a list of party presidents and where they are contesting. – April 28, 2018.

Barisan Nasional

1. Umno - Najib Razak (Pekan) v. Zahid Mat Arip (Bersatu-PH)

2. MCA - Liow Tiong Lai (Bentong) v. Wong Tack (DAP-PH)

3. MIC - Dr S. Subramaniam (Segamat) v. Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu (PKR-PH)

4. Gerakan - Mah Siew Keong (Teluk Intan) v. Nga Kor Ming (DAP-PH)

5. SPDP (Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party) - Tiong King Sing (Bintulu) v. Candidates from DAP-PH and Sarawak Reform Party

6. SUPP (Sarawak United People’s Party) - Dr Sim Kui Hian (Stampin) v. Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-PH)

7. Upko - Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran) v. Candidates from PAS, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, PKR and Parti Kebangsaan Sabah

8. Liberal Democratic Party - Teo Chee Kang (Tanjong Kapor) v. Candidates from PAS and Parti Kebangsaan Sabah

9. PBS - Joseph Pairin Kitingan (Keningau and Tambunan) v. STAR president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan and other candidates in both seats

Opposition

1. Bersatu - Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Langkawi) v. Nawawi Ahmad (Umno-BN) and Zubir Ahmad (PAS)

2. PKR - Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Pandan) v. Leong Kok Wee (MCA-BN) and Mohamed Sukri Omar (PAS)

3. DAP - Lim Guan Eng - Bagan and Air Putih v. Lee Bee Seng (MCA-BN) in Bagan v. Tang Heap Seng (MCA-BN) in Air Putih

4. Amanah - Mohamad Sabu (Kota Raja) v. V. Gunalan (MIC-BN) and Mohamed Diah Baharun (PAS)

5. PAS - Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang)v. Mohd Noor Endut (Umno-BN)

6. Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan) - Lajim Ukin (Beaufort and Klias) v. Candidates from PKR, Parti Kebangsaan Sabah and Umno in Beaufort v. Parti Kebangsaan Sabah and Umno in Klias

7. Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) - Yong Teck Lee (Kota Kinabalu) v. Candidates from DAP, Parti Kebangsaan Sabah and PBS

8. Parti Kebangsaan Sabah - Thomas Anggan (Bingkor) v. Candidates from DAP and Parti Kebangsaan Sabah