BARISAN Nasional has dismissed the accusation that the coalition has not fielded young faces, with Kuala Langat candidate Shahril Sufian Hamdan insisting that it has.

“We have fielded young candidates,” Shahril said.

Although he could not provide the exact number of young candidates in the upcoming elections, Shahril, an Umno Youth exco member and first-time candidate, insisted there are many fresh faces contesting in GE14.

“Across the political component parties, there are quite a few young faces even in Sabah and Sarawak as well,” said the 32-year-old who has represented Umno Youth in debates and forums with opposition politicians.

Shahril is facing PKR’s vice-president Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Dr Yahya Baba (PAS), a former Klang Hospital director.

At GE14, political parties are introducing a number of young candidates for both parliamentary and state seats.

The issue of fielding young or new candidates is often a prickly one as the candidate selection process depends on local party chieftains recommending their picks to the leadership.

While BN does have a few young candidates contesting, those under 30 have mostly come from MCA, while opposition parties have done better in fielding a higher number. 

BN’s new blood include Fikhran Hamshi Mohd Fatmi, 32, for Kota Baru; Ho Kwok Xheng, 30, Damansara; Chan Quin Er, 31, Seputeh; and Ceasar Mandela Malakun (Upko), 28, Penampang.

DAP has 10 candidates aged 30 and under, including Kerk Chee Yee, 25, for the Ayer Keroh state seat; Michelle Ng, 28, in Subang Jaya; Young Syefura Othman, 28, in Ketari; Lim Yi Wei, 28, Bukit Tunku; Phoong Jin Zhe, 29, in Luyang; and Jamaliah Jamaludin, 29, in Bandar Utama.

As for Bersatu, names such as Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, 25, and Abdul Hannan Khairy, 24, are those under 30 contesting in the Muar parliamentary and Kayang state seat, respectively.

PKR has four candidates aged 29 – Wong Chun Yuan in Damak, Pahang; Chua Wei Kiat for the Rawang state seat; Muhammad Hilman Idham in Gombak Setia and Muhammad Aman Md Husin in Batu Kurau. – May 6, 2018.